Video Reflection: The Connected Classroom

After watching this video one idea comes to mind: if I haven't caught on by now that using technology in the classroom is important than I haven't been paying attention to these videos at all. This video seemed to carry the same message as the videos "Did You Know" and "Pay Attention." Their message: as teachers we need to do things in a way that is different than has ever been done. This means taking advantage of the ever growing resources that are out there. I completely agree with this idea and I do feel that it is the best way to prepare students for a competitive world marketplace. The only obstacle I can see that would impede this idea is funding. While it is easy to say how useful computers, ipods or even cellphones can be in the classroom, you can't ignore the fact that these things can be expensive. Even if all but one of the kids in the class has their own cellphone you cannot create an assignment that depends on a technology that one kid doesn't have. I believe that this is one of the major obstacles that keeps classrooms looking more like those black and white photos from the video. There are measures that teachers can take such as soliciting grants that would allow them to buy the technologies, and so I suppose that a truly motivated educator will do all they can to assure that their students have the best there is to offer. To be honest I'm not sure where I am going with this idea, I guess the best solution would be to instill this idea in a much greater scope than just educators so that they can get the support they need from administrators, law makers and the community to help make these ideas a reality.