Net Generation Education Project

I recently participated as an Expert Advisor and Judge for the Net Generation Education Project, and it was an incredible endeavor. “Technology in education” is a concept that is thrown around a lot lately, but seeing it in real action as I did during this project was amazing. Prior, I would have no clue that 300 students from various schools, separated into random groups, from around the world could truly collaborate on this type of task and then produce the final product as they have done. In particular, I am very new to the use of wikis, and the one used for this project (http://netgened.wikispaces.com/) really shows the power and capability of our current technologies.

My wife is a teacher, and I periodically kept her up to date with this project, as she was very intrigued. Upon completion, she was also impressed by the process and results. She is now extremely eager to find some potential involvement for her class or district in this type of project in the future. I think this speaks to the fact that possibilities are truly endless in the world of education right now, due much in part to available technology. Moreover, technology has advanced further than most even know how to make use of or take advantage of. I’d say the main barrier for technology is no longer a lack of computers in the schools as some may think, but rather a lack of awareness for those involved in administering education to our youth. I’m pleased that I have the advantage to experience technology use as I am currently, and I look forward to advocating for a continued growth of presence in the realm of primary education.