Future Technology

Future technologies emerge faster than we can keep up with them, yet teachers feel pressure to incorporate ever-changing resources into their classroom practice. It's important to match learning tools to teaching strategies and content necessary to meet both academic and technology standards. Emerging technologies will support teacher efforts to accomplish BOTH.

One emerging technology which will assist teachers is the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement becoming popular in middle and high schools. BYOD increases the technology available in the classroom and allows tech tools to be strategically incorporated into academics. Schools pioneering this technology are also launching new protocols of support with information sessions, video "commericals" for use policies, and permissions forms. Organizations like the NEA support the new BYOD movement and encourage schools to prepare teachers, students, and parents for this emerging technology.

Although critics of the BYOD movement say it will expose inequalities between students, the benefits outweigh the potential challenges. As younger students have access to the internet on their personal devices, options for teaching strategies expand for teachers. Most schools do not enjoy a one-to-one technology environment, even in high socioeconomic settings. The BYOD movement, if carefully unpacked in classrooms, will give students learning opportunities that even their districts may not make possible.