Education in American public schools has undergone remarkable change in the past two decades. Advances in technology have played a major role in this evolution. For example, graphing calculators have modified how mathematics is taught. The focus is not on memorizing multi-step calculations but on using a calculator to solve complex problems. Computers have created instant access to information. Thus libraries and textbooks are no longer the absolute source of knowledge.
In a networking society, the focus is sharing. Public schools must now teach students to be team members, maximizing the contributions of each individual. One student helping another may have been “cheating” in an earlier age, whereas the same action is now “teamwork.”
Because the advance of technology has transformed entertainment, students and their parents are no longer content with an education system of “sit and get.” Today’s teachers must be more creative, providing students with opportunities to satisfy curiosity, pursue issues of interest, and seek meaningful solutions.
Dr. Marilyn Hill received her Doctor of Education from Baylor University in 1992. She began her career in education in the fall of 1965 as an ELA teacher in LaMarque, Texas and has stayed in the field of education ever since. Since 2007 Dr. Marilyn has been the Curriculum Director for Florence ISD. Follow Dr. Marilyn on Twitter @DrMarilynHill or join the conversation on her blog, Dr. Marilyn.