Why Transformation Should    

In the Power to Teach portion of 

opportunities and abilities to delve

the BellSouth edu.pwr

3

initiative,

deeply into information and topics

teachers reported that they had

that tap their interests. According to

made significant gains in incorpo 

a UCLA study, Internet use is highest

rating technology into their teaching.

among children 18 and under. Yet,

Their students, however, reported

this kind of technological engage 

When cellular technology

little or no change at all in the way

ment   at a meaningful level   is

technology was affecting their

was first introduced, people

absent in the vast majority of schools

learning experience. By finding 

didn't realize that, beyond

and classrooms. With instant con 

new ways to provide students 

nections to unlimited numbers of

pedestrian uses, being in a

with the learning experiences they

people and sources of information,

wireless mode would pivotally

crave, schools can begin to close

kids are capable of more than ever

alter the landscape and their

this  perception gap. 

before, but teachers and school

lifestyle. That's a challenge

leaders need to know how to guide

that we have today. How 

students and direct these new skills

do you really understand 

in meaningful ways that produce an

engaging learning experience.

the potential impact of what

Technology has allowed students

you haven't experienced? 

to create and continually define a

How do you give the consumer

new form of dialog, and educators

a better view into what those

can add immense value if they

potential lifestyle impacts

become part of the conversation.

Technology has already changed

are? And how are you going

students' lives outside school.

This situation is analogous to the

to push that change in the

Students for whom email, pagers,

advent of wireless technology in the

marketplace?

cell phones, text messaging,

telecom industry. Some leaders con 

Internet surfing, streaming video

  Rod D. Odom, Jr., President, Network

sidered it just a way for customers

Services, BellSouth Corporation

and distance gaming are a daily

to take existing telephone services

reality outside school have new

on the road. But for customers, it

Students learn in different ways. How many methods (and

minds) are we engaging in today's classroom?

Automation

Innovation

 I encouraged my students to use

 I asked my students to share what

technology to create a five minute

they learned about nuclear medicine

speech about nuclear medicine.

with the class in whatever format

Many of them used Powerpoint and

they chose. They created three web 

one showed images from her digital

sites, hosted a conference call, 

camera. 

and screened a live interview with 

a local medical school. 

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