Part III Reflection

In part III of “Leading 21^st Century Schools,” Schrum and Levin discuss tying all the tools for 21st Century Learners together. With every Web 2.0 tool implemented we build a network of learning and communication that enhances our learning communities. The implementation of these tools, however, comes with responsibilities. The privacy and protection of information should always be at the forefront of communication standards, especially when students are involved. To ensure these standards are visible and accessible, they should be shared on the school's intranet, public website, and shared with students and parents at the start of the school year. This should increase awareness and uphold the responsibility of students, teachers, and parents to inform and be informed.

The last responsibility we have is to lessen and minimize any digital and gender divides. The problems we typically face when we implement new technology tools in the classroom, or even society, are inaccessibility and lack of resources. When we plan to advance in our technology tools, we also need to plan to ensure no individual is left behind. When we consider certain tools, we need to ensure they are suitable for all end-users. Schrum and Levin mention, "Girls are not computer-phobic but rather are more interested in collaborative activities than in playing games that are designed for competition and that focus on death and destruction. They were more interested in games that feature stimulation, employ extensive strategies, and focus on interaction." If we take this piece of knowledge and distribute it in the way we market technology to students, while making the necessary resources available, we are one step closer to closing any digital divides.