EXTRA+CREDIT

Extra Credit Posting
 * For your post this week you will need the following:**
 * Examples of how technology has changed the work environment and created the disconnect between education and business
 * An evaluation of the extent of the disconnect between your working environment as a teacher and the workplace environment your students will occupy
 * An evaluation of the disconnect between the classroom as a work environment for students and the workplace environment they will occupy in the future
 * Ideas for how you can apply your learning this week to address the disconnect between your classroom and the modern workplace
 * Post** an analysis of the changes taking place in the business world and in your own classroom.

Mark Borden Technology has surplanted education as the main source of information. The dot com generation has used advances in technology better than educators and forced an awakening in how we teach,think,and use technology for educational purposes. Books are obsolete and can never catch up to websites or blogs on current information. The agricultural/industrial model of education is being forced to ascend toward a true information/communication age. There is a huge disconnect in my school/district between what we teach the students and what the students will need to know how to do in the future workplace. In my classroom, the poverty level has increased during this last recession and many students cannot afford the computer and the internet anymore. Most still have cell phones. I liked the mother/teacher in the video story about her daughter's work schedule. I want a 4 day work week! Why cant we implement this idea to save money in school? The school would have to loan students computers and pay for the internet. Maybe we could use a massive wi-fi signal to cover the entire city in the future, giving people access to the internet for free. Do you think the cable and cell phone companies would buy into that plan? The chicken or the egg. We need jobs in the United States and people that are techologically advanced. Do we pay now or later? The students that we are teaching must be familiar with as many computer applications as possible.I need to continue to allow class time to teach the use of applications. I need to continue to educate myself with the use of new technologies and applications for my classroom that could benefit my students.. Resources Thornburg, D. (2008) The changing work environment. (Laureate Education, Inc, DVD, 2008 release). Thornburg, D. (2008) Technology’s influence. (Laureate Education, Inc, DVD, 2008 release).

Sharon Padget

Technology and the use of it is my students' world. They are more connected to our world if they choose to be than any one in the past. Our schools because of a lack of funding are falling further and further behind in the education of our children in using this technology effectively and appropriately and they will continue to not be prepared unless all teachers are required to use the tools of business in their classroom regardless of their content area. As our economy continues to widen the gap between the haves and have nots, many of my students will be left behind and not be able to compete for the good paying jobs because they will not have the education as they will not be able to afford it. Their workplace will be low paying and not much opportunity for advancement. Those students I do have that can afford the education and technology at home will have so many ways to do business and be productive in the workplace. I see workers not having a 5-6 day work week instead because of the technology making people 24/7 available, I see people working everyday all day or all night. I see less mobility of workers because of video conferencing and software such as Skype. I need to expose my students to as many applications, hardware and uses of technology as possible before they graduate in order for them to be able to start thinking about how they can use it to their advantage to make their lives more productive and fulfilling.

Thornburg, D. (2008) The changing work environment. (Laureate Education, Inc, DVD, 2008 release). Thornburg, D. (2008) Technology’s influence. (Laureate Education, Inc, DVD, 2008 release).