The International Tech Race

Digital Directions has published an interesting article that I've been thinking about lately. I guess I just really haven't been thinking about technology skills as a competitive area, though my husband, a software engineer, certainly does. But it is a good reminder that technology skill is part of NCLB and of the important role of technology in 21st Century Skills, particularly problem-solving and creativity.

I **hope** that I am sharing this perspective of technology with my students. I teach them certain products and have them create certain products, but I also endeavor to talk about the changing nature of technology and the real power behind it. I defined technology in my dissertation as "any tool or collection of tools" and, believe me, I caught some flack for that! But I do not limit my vision of "technology" to "things that can be plugged in" as some folks do. I feel strongly that technologies are simply tools that we can use to solve problems. So, in reality, teachers are always using technology. The key is choosing the right technology for the job. As teachers, we need to use effective tools to convey information and encourage students to engage with content. In turn, our students need to learn how to use and choose technologies that will meet their needs.

Perhaps this is where America can show its strength in the tech race. We have always been a nation of innovators. We are known for our creativity. So, our pedagogy and standards should encourage the development of creativity and innovation in the selection and use of technologies to solve problems.