Importance+for+Teachers

=**Why is this important for Teachers?**=

Universities, specifically Univeristy of Manitoba, are slowly changing the way they train teacher candidates, in that, they are turning away from the more traditional methods of teaching (e.g. rote learning), and turning towards exploration-based learning. Teachers are now supposed to facilitate student exploration-based learning, encouraging the students to think independently. Teachers must teach in a variety of ways, helping the students to find a way they learn best. Since the students "think and process information fundamentally differently" (Prensky) due to the immersion of technology, it would be in their best interest to //learn// using technology. Some teachers find it difficult to engage students in learning the curriculum; part of this is not knowing how. A teacher's duty is to teach his/her students the best way they can learn. Since students are actively engaged when using technology during their own time, why not implement technology in the classroom? As mentioned above, teacher candidates are learning to teach exploration-based learning, and so they can utilize technology to enhance student creativity and individuality (table) even more. Specifically, using computers in a classroom "offers unique opportunities for learning through exploration, creative problem solving, and self-guided instruction" (Douglas Clements). Current teachers may feel hesitant in bringing technology to the classroom for fear of not knowing how to use it. All teachers know that this job requires life-long learning, so go out and do whatever is necessary to learn the basics of technology.