"Turning on the Lights"

This article was very interesting. I actually really enjoyed it. I have never realized the affect technology has on students and learning. My generation, for the most part, grew up with technology, but technology is used and relied on even more than it was when I was growing up. It never occurred to me that students are actually bored in school and this due to the lack of technology involved and teaching for the future not being involved. I figured (which still may be the case for some students) that students were just getting lazier and not caring about school or education. However, I agree with Prensky that by incorporating technology and newer ways to teach would make education more intriguing to students. I do still believe, however, that personal items such as cell phones and I-pods need to be turned off or silenced when in school. I know, from my own experience, that the second I get bored in class if I have access to a such a device I will be using it and not paying attention. That's not to say that they need to be banned by any means, just used appropriately and maybe even incorporated with teaching and learning.
I agree that some subjects in school need to be added or older subjects need to be brought up to current times, making it more beneficial for current students. However, I do believe that some basics still need to be taught and make sure that they are being learned correctly. There are always ways to update lessons and include technology while teaching, but things such as grammar, spelling, and basic English is very important and no matter how smart you are if you don't use proper English many will not take you seriously. I am actually a little excited to see what kinds of technology I will teach with and how I can make learning better for my students. I don't want to be a teach who is stuck in the ways of the past and refuses to adjust, but I think there is a fine line that should not be crossed when disregarding the ways of education from the past.
One thing that I disagreed with in this article was at the end when Prensky went on and named many different video games, such as World of Warcraft, and said that these are helping to educate students. I have never played World of Warcraft so I cannot say this is not in any way educational. However, games such as Halo, that is really only killing, is not in anyway educational, in my opinion. I do realize that they are learning the technology and different aspects and ways to win the game, but I think there are many other games that would be more beneficial than this one. What I am saying is that to a point I think SOME video games are educating students, but there is also a fine line here that can be crossed and involves too much of the video games and not enough learning.
I believe teachers need to be just as educated when it comes to technology as their students. Before I may not have thought it was as big a deal, but after reading the article and relating to it in my own schooling, I do believe that students will learn more and engage more if they are taught in a way that interests them. We do need to be looking into the future for our students. I want to be fully aware that as a teacher, the students are my priority and my job is to teach them. This may mean learning new things myself, but if it means advancing my students' education that should not be an issue or even debated. I should gladly learn a new concept or technology to educate the next generation.