Keeping Up with Accelerating Technologies as an Educator

Even the most technology gifted individuals struggle with the pace of accelerating technologies. Although not in the gifted category, I certainly try to keep up with new apps, programs, and strategies to apply technology in the classroom. As I teach classes I tend to find one or more students with advanced skills. Never the same skills because the broad spectrum of resources available today is incredibly varied.

A few months ago, I watched my nephew's little boy, just a toddler, navigating through an iPad with intuitive skill. He doesn't know how to read or write, but he could use the icons and swipes to get to where he wanted. These are the kids that may be given a name beyond those digital natives born after the 1960's. His dad and his cousins, my sons, were born in this age. Some with greater technology skills than others just because of the opportunities they had to work with computers and other devices like smartphones.

The technological knowledge that many teachers possess is meager compared to children barely coming into their teens. Just about a week ago a twelve year old disclosed hacking in to government and business servers. He is certainly not the only one with this type of knowledge, but he's the one that dared try. As teachers, we need to make an effort to learn as much as we can about technology and "fake it until we make it", if we ever could? 

Tell me what you think? Is it worth the effort?