21st Century and Beyond!

As I reflect back on what I've learned in the Technology for Teachers course, I continually come up with one conclusion: the teacher makes the difference.
Some districts are blessed with IWBs in every room, a laptop for every student; while others are struggling for simple supplies like textbooks. The question has repeatedly risen of when, how, why and if technology should be incorporated into classroom lessons. If it is available, and used properly - sure, why not! However I feel that such an emphasis has been placed on technology that the schools which are without must be feeling like they're left in the last century. This is not so! Creative, educated, well-rounded, dedicated and driven teachers can reach students on a blackboard just as well as on a whiteboard! What every district needs is quality teachers who hold high standards for themselves as well as the students.
The skills that are most valuable, the ones which should be stressed no matter the technology available, are: cooperation, self-discipline, collaboration, inquisitiveness, self-esteem, determination and the understanding of what knowledge and education provide for a lifetime.
While working in the last class, we spent over half of a class period with students working on their laptops. I did not have one. By the simple lacking of this expensive piece of technology I felt inadequate, cheated of the lesson time, ashamed, frustrated and embarrassed. I believe this could be a problem with students, especially those in their younger years where self-image and psychological development are whirring at high intensity within students. Technology can be embraced, but with caution to never allow it to alienate a student. If at my age and life experience level I felt such strong emotions (to the point where I had to step out of class for a moment), I can only imagine what that student who is poor but happens to have an apartment in a high income district feels when compared to other more privileged students.
It is because my professor stressed so greatly that interaction with students is key, rather than the technology itself, that I felt like I could teach any class - no matter the income level of that district.
So it is a rather curious thing, that in a technology class, my belief in the quality of the teacher, not necessarily the gadgets he/she uses, it what makes that teacher one who will have the greatest impact. It is true that we need to develop globally competitive students, but the essence of being prepared and competitive in the world market is what is inside the student, not what they can manipulate with their fingertips.

The Knight on a White Board

With all the emerging technology available today, it seems there is a great push to incorporate these tools into the classroom learning process. Studies claim that use of technology such as whiteboards (Smartboard, Promethean, Luidia and so on) can raise students anywhere from 10-30+ percentile points through their use.
What must be stressed is that this new way of interactive learning cannot replace the value of the teacher. Simply because a teacher enters a room and turns on the whiteboard does not make him/her the teacher of the year. As with any tool for learning from the past, the lessons must be assembled in a student friendly way. There is little argument that the writing of lines is a less than adequate teaching method because it does not engage the student. Likewise, simply running through videos, charts or using praise generating activities on a whiteboard still does not engage the student.
The teacher must put time, thought, creativity and skill into the preparation and presentation of the lessons. As throughout the history of teaching, the information must be explained, explored and examined. No matter what new technology comes our way, the effectiveness of the lessons still rest on the responsibility of the teacher.