While reading the National Educational Technology Standards for students and teachers, there are several intriguing things that truly stand out for me. Technology can be used obviously in many valuable ways, but the most important to me is creating a widespread cultural understanding which will ultimately lead to tolerance and acceptance. Global awareness and engaging with learners of other cultures not only expands students' minds but also their hearts. As we are becoming more and more immersed in this global culture, I am reminded of when I was a child and my class was "pen pals" with another class across the country, and how exciting it was to learn about our commonalities and differences. Global learning certainly is several steps further along than that simple, yet important stage of development in reaching out to learners outside of our own community and an amazing way to allow technology to bring us all closer together, sharing knowledge and ideas. Many people from older generations fear that technology will create a divide, a disconnect between people as they seem to be only dealing with a screen in front of them. But the truth is that that screen now turns the world on to them in a way that wasn't possible when personal computers first came on the scene.
Additionally, these standards underscore part of my own personal philosophy, the importance of lifelong learning. There is always an opportunity to learn, at any stage of life, it's part of what keeps life exciting and worthwhile. In addition to connecting various cultures, to continue to use the knowledge that we have and build upon it, especially using new technologies, also connects the generations to each other. To impart this lifelong learning ideal (across cultures and generations) to students is probably one of the greatest lessons we can teach them.
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