Sorting Through Technology

Web 2.0 3.0, HTML 5, Andriod, iOS, apps, blogs, wikis, 21st Century, virtual labs and field trips, BYOD/T/L, PLN, netiquette, cyber-bullying, the list goes on... What are educators to make of the available technology? Do we really need it to educate our children? Isn't it unfair that some children, schools, and groups have access to technology while others do not? Who is responsible for teaching children how to conduct themselves online? What should parents and schools restrict and what should children be allowed to use online? Can computer/video games really be educational? Which online resources should be trusted?

The sheer volume of information that we have available to us 24/7 can be overwhelming. It seems that in the time it takes me to turn the page in a magazine, there is some new technology available. Even as an instructional technology specialist, I find it difficult to keep up with the technology available to educators. Our world, however, is changing. Like it or not, our children's experiences are vastly different from those of children 20 years ago. While the still deal with many similar issues such as friendship, morality, setting priorities, and trust to name a few, they navigate them in a more complex context.

You may have seen these videos before, but I think that they do a great job of juxtaposing the mindset of our children toward technology and that of many adults:
http://youtu.be/pQHX-SjgQvQ
http://youtu.be/6s5iISaVGrk