Tech Trends in Education

     Are you ready for the next wave of educational technology?  A report from New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE pinpoints six trends to watch over the next five years:

• user-created content;
• social networking;
• mobile phones;
• virtual worlds
• new scholarship and emerging forms of publication; and
• massively multiplayer educational gaming.

     There seems to be a "love-hate" relationship between education and a number of the items mentioned above - specifically, social networking and mobile phones.  Recent media reports show growing concern about cell phone use during instructional time.  In fact, I've written about the issue ("Students May be Fined for Ringing Cell Phones"  September 13, 2006).  And although I've attended networking opportunities at conventions and seminars, who knew a parallel would be drawn between them and My Space?

     The good news is that some teachers and administrators are embracing technology that seems second nature to kids today.  If they can harness the energy spent on gaming and make it relevant to curriculum, there's no telling what students may achieve!