If you want to draw a response of uncertainty, frustration, and irritation, just ask a parent how much screen time they let their children have. I believe that digital technology evokes very strong feelings in parents: feelings that somehow technology is threatening their children’s well-being.
Teachers react similarly when asked that question about their students. However, schools have certain barriers to technology use: cost, training, maintenance, expertise, traditional instruction and curriculum that doesn’t usually include substantial amounts of digital technology. Curriculum and instruction evolve slowly. Classes are generally age-defined so kids aren’t learning from older students. Change is much slower in schools.
I argue that technology has already impacted traditional schools in a big way and they are struggling to handle it. One area impacted by technology is content, or fact-gathering. Traditional curriculum and instruction generally included teaching information, facts about the Civil War for example. Kids may not need that anymore. They are usually quite capable of finding lots of fascinating information, maps, pictures, videos about the Civil War. Teachers still play an important role in enhancing and directing their learning, but acceptance of the fact that technology has replaced part of their job will become harder and harder to ignore.
Off the Beaten Track 