The article The Changing Classroom: Challenges for Teachers addresses issues educators have had face since the arrival of the Internet and the fast and evolving development of technology. According to Kellner, today’s schools are recognizing that teachers must become “technology proficient” in order to provide innovative instruction. Students are now coming to class having been exposed to a variety of “technologies” such as emailing and instant messaging. They in some cases possess greater knowledge of technology than the teacher. This is forcing teachers to engage in the changing learning process. It means acquiring new skills to deliver instruction in innovative ways. The second challenge presented in the article is the cultivation of information literacy skills. While some teachers know about the technology that is available, they lack the knowledge of how to integrate these resources in the different content areas. According to Kellner, teachers must advance their “information literacy.” The last challenge presented in the article is the need to teach this generation of students how to access, filter and present information not in passive ways, but in interactive ways. We should provide opportunities for participatory learning projects. Hands-projects where the final product is creating a website, or keeping an electronic log are far more motivating. These real life Internet research experiences will also prepare students to succeed as they advance in their education and beyond. They provide opportunities to develop social and communications skills necessary in life.

I agree with Kellner that our challenge as educators is to prepare our students to actively engage in the learning process. We can achieve this by transforming the means we use to deliver instruction using interactive methods that involve the use of technology and the Internet. The only challenge that he did not address is the time factor. Teachers are constantly being asked to do more to keep up with a rigorous curriculum in every level (K-12). Becoming information literate, learning how to integrate technology and being comfortable to stand and deliver takes time. So my final words are that we, as educators, must not feel threaten by technology and the Internet.  If used properly and in a responsible manner, these tools can truly make teaching and learning something to look forward to.

Douglass Kellner, Ph.D.

‘The Changing Classroom: Challenges for Teachers”

THEJournal.com/ March 2005

Retrieved on May 19, 2006 from http://thejournal.com/the/printarticle/?id=17203