The love/hate relationship of technology in education

I have learned so much about technology that frankly, it's mind-boggling. For someone of my generation, who did not even have access to computers during the 1970's and mid-80's, and who has yet to own an IPod or Blackberry, the idea of building my own website or blog is astounding! It is also intimidating.

I realize, as children grow up with more and more available to them in the form of technology, that it is paramount for teachers to keep up with trends in technology. Many children today, I am sure, have never cracked open an encyclopedia...they have, however, used Encarta online, or Google-d their way through research papers and just simple curiosity. For a teacher of my age, for whom it is no big deal to do so myself, to ask a modern student to go to the library and pull out a reference material off the stacks is nearly sacrilege!

It is, therefore, that I delve further into this odd world of technology in, and for, education. I can see great possibilities for my future language arts classes. Students will learn modern methods of having their work peer-edited, as their work is posted on their own blog, or submitted through a site such as Creative Commons. They will hear criticism (constructive, I hope) from those who are outside their socio-economic setting, and this alone can be an invaluable asset. Many students never get an opportunity to leave their hometown and hear points of view outside of their small circle of friends and family. Technology, however, is changing this rapidly. A modern student would not be shocked to see posts from not only other states, but other countries and continents. Yet, for still so many, this opportunity is only available at school, as they are not able to afford computers and/or internet access at home.
With this said, it is even more important that we, as teachers, allow our students every opportunity to be exposed to the technology that will, with no doubt in my mind, be a focus point of their lives and an integral part of future employment.
So...with that said, my love-hate relationship with technology will have to be resolved into a determination to better understand, and utilize, technology...if not for my benefit, then for the betterment of my future students!