Incorporating Modern Technology in the Classroom

Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children's future, is it really ok to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction?

Three years ago, I sat in my AP Literature class listening to my instructor explain to the class how he could barely manage his email address, so if we had questions we should ask him in class. Initially this seemed alright, but what happens when a student has an urgent question about an assignment? Sure, the student could continue working the way he thinks he should, but if his idea is wrong, his grade suffers. I know back in the day, we didn't have the internet and students got along just fine. However, in our modern age, if we have the technology to improve education, why wouldn't we use it?

Teachers should not have the option to incorporate modern technology into their instruction. This should be a requirement of all schools, as long as certain hardware and software fits in the school's budget. Students need to learn about modern technology because it is vital to their future success in the world of employment. If none of us had computers in schools when we were growing up, where would we have learned how to type? Most of our parents probably could afford to but a computer, but what about the kids whose parents couldn't afford computers? They would have suffered greatly because the vast majority of employers and instructors just assume everyone can type and operate a computer.

The technology today is the language that these students will need to learn and speak fluently. I had never heard of using blogs in the classroom until I entered this class, nor had I ever used GoogleDocs or Geometer's Sketchpad. I never used Moodle or Compass or anything like these websites at my high school, but I've met other students who have. Technology like this makes the students' and teachers' lives easier, so it only makes sense to use it. Any teacher who refuses to use new technology like this is just hindering his students. As teachers, we should want to provide our students with as much information and resources as we possibly can, and technology is a huge part of that.