Technology can help change schools

 In "New York Times Panel: How Can Technology Provide Equal Access for All Learners?" the article dealt with the general idea that technology can be a tool used to better the education system, specifically making it more equalized. The idea being that those who usually are left with the short end of the stick, such as low-income students, would only gain if their schools learned how to use technology. In "Is Online Education The Great Equalizer?"a panel of educators discussed that the inequalities within our schools can be reduced by technology. However just having access to online material did not mean that education was equal. A panelist pointed out that a key to success was also getting a proficient educator. I liked this thought for it removes the idea that teachers may become obsolete, it reminds us that there needs to at least be a sage on the side to help facilitate the learning. They commented on the fact that it is usually the richer schools that use technology to its full advantage, beyond drill and practices, as found in poorer schools. This point also referenced to the generic inequalities in our school system, that stiffens education. A panelist believed that teachers were to focused on "old traditions"of the school system to try anything new. He believed teachers "need to get out of that frame of mind" to use technology as a leverage for equality. Because of a research paper I have, I've been reading in part about the tracking system, which facilitates racial and class inequalities, one example is "Academic Profiling : Latinos, Asian Americans, and the Achievement Gap." I then thought that as technology can help customize education there is less need for ability grouping like in the tracking system. This could be easier done in a flipped classroom, for all will be going at their own pace already. However the premise of this was not only that the educational system would switch to a flipped classroom but that tracking would be dismantled, two major changes for a system that hates changes. This idea of educators, and the education system being too stubborn for change reminded my of the "Saber Tooth Curriculum," in that the cavemen continued to teach and keep practices that were no longer beneficial to society. As one panelist pointed out, our school culture is not ready to make the necessary changes. In "Schools for Tomorrow" it criticized our system for failing to facilitate critical thinking, and focusing on achievement, instead of arbitrary letter grades.Yet again I remember the "Saber Tooth Curriculum" which taught me to question everything about education.