Teaching Technology

Over the past couple decades, the Internet, along with other emerging technologies, have been taking on an increasingly involved role in shaping our society. Generation Y, sometimes referred to as the “Net Generation,” has come of age during an era of unprecedented technological breakthroughs, which have forever changed the lives of countless people around the globe. They have become masters of the mouse and although they have undoubtedly heard the horrifying stories from their baby boomer parents, they still struggle to recall a time when email, instant messaging, video conferencing, blogging, and online media and networking sites did not yet exist.

Those from the Net Generation are likely to consider the aging baby boomers old-fashioned since they are not always up to date on the latest gadgets and computer tricks. However, this does not mean that the baby boomers are idly standing by as the world becomes increasingly connected by means of groundbreaking technologies and an ever-expanding network of digital communication devices. In fact, many are making a conscious effort to remain abreast of new technology in an attempt to improve and enhance communications with their sons and daughters of the Net Generation. This idea is easily observed when we consider America’s schools and the great lengths that teachers go to in order to bring into the classroom new technology that could revolutionize the way students learn. Teachers not only understand that today’s students have a genuine interest in technology given the prominent role it has played in their upbringing, but they also know that when successfully integrated into the classroom learning experience, new technology can provide a wealth of educational resources that enable students to learn more effectively.

Although its benefits are widely recognized, technology’s role in the advancement of education has been taking on a new level of importance within the last few years. With the start of the new millennium, the world witnessed the emergence and rising popularity of online social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. Although the majority of people who use these sites are likely to be members of the Net Generation, older folks, including teachers and school administrators, are also logging in to connect with others in the education field and share valuable advice, ideas, and resources with one another. The improved communication that these social networking sites offer enables teachers to acquire additional tools that strengthen their skills as educators and ensure their students’ success, which, of course, is the ultimate goal.

Summer Workation is similarly taking advantage of new technologies in order to revolutionize teachers’ summer breaks. Several years ago, it would have been nearly impossible for an organization to offer teachers summer support in a scalable or affordable way. By using the Internet to make information universally available and social media to connect with those in the education field, Summer Workation is able to help teachers optimize their summer breaks by linking them with rewarding workations (working vacation growth opportunities). The hope is that teachers will continue to grow and learn during the summer months so that upon their return to the classroom, they can integrate revolutionary new ideas and technology into the curriculum for the benefit of their students’ overall learning experience.