Frustrating Technology

It is frustrating from my point of view to learn about all the neat products I can use in my classroom to improve student interest and to help them develop the skills necessary to survive in a rapidly changing world but realize you can't use them as you'd like. 

I was at a speech where the presenter talked about encouraging students to be creative and do something new like build a prosthetic hand for other children via a 3D printer.  He also talked about how many of the jobs we see right now will be gone in the next 5 years and the skills needed to succeed are changing.

He highlighted many of the largest companies that have succeeded with no real product such as Uber which transports people yet does not own a single taxi, or AirBnB has multiple places to stay, yet does not own a single property.

I discovered I have access to a program because the state bought it but I have to get permission from people at work to use it.  Will I get the permission?  I don't know.  Even if I get permission, the schools infra structure is old enough that everything needs to be replaced.  This program offers moves, concept mapping, primary sources, reading related material in different lexile levels, quizzes, movie making, etc but it relies on the internet.

 I want to put my students on this program and on others that will help make them more independent learners with the skills needed to survive in today's world but with the system at school having its issues, I can't always do that.  When we do online testing, I cannot have my students on the internet because it could kick students off the test.

On the other hand, its hard to convince students they want to learn applications of technology rather than using only books, worksheets, and learning via the "older" methods because they live in a remote enough rural area that many children have never really left the village. They don't understand they could start a web based business to market their native artwork and earn a living.

To so many of my students, the only places to obtain employment is one of the stores who only hire people part time, the police department which doesn't pay well and cycles through employees, the school which doesn't pay over the summer, the city or tribal and that is about it.  There families work there.  I know one woman who has tried to start her own body care business but hasn't had much luck because the ability to purchase extras happens only during the first few days of the month.

Its hard to convince my students they need to learn technology as a tool when it provides games for them to play and they do not see it being used to create businesses or the possibilities that exist in that realm. 

I hope we get the infrastructure updated so I have a chance to convince students they do want to learn about all this amazing technology which can help them in a constantly changing world.  Tomorrow, I'll chat on a certification I intend to earn and its not Google Educator. That is for another day.

Let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear.