Both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News announced this week that they would no longer be printing closing stock/mutual fund prices in the paper anymore. Instead, you can find the information on their websites. You may be wondering what this has to do with constructivism or technology in education. I think the relevance is that both papers faced up to the reality of a quickly changing world. Active investors didn't bother to look in the paper anymore for stock prices, they looked online (or, more likely, the information came to them in one of the many online portfolio trackers that are out there). It just wasn't worth the cost of paper and ink anymore just to provide info to casual investors that checked occasionally. Instead, both papers are trying to direct readers to their websites. So not only are they acknowledging that paper delivery of this information is obsolete, but they are actively trying to drive more readers to their websites so that they don't lose readership. I wonder how many other areas of the paper will soon find themselves in the same position?
So, what does this mean for the "average" adult investor? It means that pretty much you are forced to go online to get information, even if that's not your preferred method. In other words, it's not just "the kids" that are using this new-fangled technology, but adults - even ones who don't want to - are being forced to. And I think the relevance is that - for our students - their future is going to be so intricately entwined with technology that they not only are going to have to be comfortable using technology, but they are going to have to be able to use it naturally and seamlessly in all areas of their lives. If you accept that premise, then do you think the preparation we are currently providing them at AHS is adequate? Do you truly think we are doing everything we should be doing to prepare them for their future - or are we still preparing them for our past?
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