Tecnology and the Classroom

The technological tools that are available to transform our classrooms into 21st century learning environments are becoming more plentiful and user friendly by the day. I recently came across this video on youtube which takes students on a 3d video tour of ancient Rome via Google Earth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqMXIRwQniA&feature=PlayList&p=F892E75A1A0A04CB&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

As a former geography teacher, I was enthralled with the possibilities this has as a classroom learning tool. Twenty years ago, I had students go to the library and research the architectural grandeur of ancient Rome, but now kids can actually interact with these structures via Google Earth. Think how much more powerful and engaging this type of learning experience would be for our kids.

In education, we hear a lot about the integration of technology into the curriculum, but what does that really mean? Does it mean using an Elmo or LCD to project our classroom notes as opposed to an overhead, or does it mean using that LCD projector hooked to the Internet as a tool for "just in time" learning? Does it mean having students complete a powerpoint presentation instead of a research paper on a country in Africa, or does it mean using Skype to actually communicate with students in that African country? Does it mean having students use the Internet to Google search websites on a particular topic, or does it mean using a wiki for them to create this resource in an interactive manner? Does it mean hanging teacher worksheets and assignments on a website for students to reference, or does it mean creating an interactive blog for students to communicate and ask questions of their teacher and other students in the class?

These are the questions we must begin to answer and the challenges public education faces as we try to prepare our students for the global economy of the 21st century.