Technology in Education Today... a personal observation
My kids started bringing home 'netbooks' for assignments last year at 3rd & 4th grade... they are submitting homework online, and also doing math levels online as well...they have a login code, and their personal performance is logged as well as minutes spent...
I thought it was a little over the top, until I went back to college this fall.
I'm back at my Community College to take some of the solids I need for my BA in Journalism, because the commute and the fees for the University are out of reach. So it's easier, cheaper, etc to try and complete as many of the req's I need before we have to move to be closer to the University. I got my AA in '06, and have actually been going back occasionally for little electives, a computer class, nutrition, etc... but nothing prepared me for the new age of education...
Now, one has access to several online databases of periodicals and professional journals through the college library, at the touch of a button I can look at Time magazine archives from 1980, and read Medical Journals that would otherwise be paid subscription ... that is amazing in itself. BUT, get this:
My assignments, even for a PHYSICAL class (not online, but on campus) are to be processed through a site called 'Turn -it-In' the site is also linked to the huge database of resources and can automatically tell the instructor how much of your paper is "original content" and if you fail to cite sources, you will get nailed for plaigerism. This means that the site uses a form of 'face recognition' software for text in a multitude of sources AND student submissions to process this data.... (makes me think again about how easily the Govt can read our emails, yikes)
What I told my little ones today was that they'd better learn how to be responsible for their education and understand the technology needed to process it, or they were not going to make it in today's competitive world, and by the time they get to college, it is going to be really mind blowing.
I think about my oldest, now 20 and struggling in his classes, and wonder if the technology gap is why...was he not trained how to use certain types of databases in high school? What if he can;t get up to speed...is he just going to have no other choice but vocational training?
anyway, just some observations as I get ready to do my homework online...and I am sure I'll fall down the rabbit hole for a good while, too. 
