Spirit Magazine - August 2013 - (Page 20)

From the Editor TEACHING AIDS Dear Reader, A wise man once told me, “Welcome new ideas, but don’t let them all move in.” Those are good words to keep in mind when you read the story on page 72 about how technology is impacting education. Computers and the Internet are “flipping” classrooms: Students learn concepts at night and do “homework” at school, where teachers can aid the strugglers. That way, advocates say, kids can advance at their own speed and get help before they fall behind. The innovations excited me when I learned about them. Then again, I’m what they call an early adopter (industry-speak for “easy sale”). I can’t resist new gadgets. I don’t just welcome them, I let them move in. Ask my wife; she’ll be happy to tell you. But is the education story really about technology, or is it more about the teachers who use it? Ultimately, even the most advanced program or website can’t compete 20 SPIRIT AUGUST 2013 with a skilled, dedicated educator. Know what would excite me even more than new education software? News that Americans have begun valuing teachers as much as they do any other professional. Still, technology can make a difference all its own. We should understand its potential power—and its perils. Not that long ago in human history, one of the most dangerous pieces of technology upended education. Some people welcomed it. Others, including very wise men and women, warned against letting it move in. And this innovation confirmed some of their worst fears, spreading radical ideas, sparking revolutions, and changing civilization forever. That new technology was the printed book. —Jay Heinrichs Editorial Director PHOTOGRAPHY BY © OCEAN/CORBIS Some advances in learning can be chalked up to new tech.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - August 2013

Spirit Magazine - August 2013
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
The Numbers
Wise Guide
Business
The Greatest Show on Turf
Flipped Out
Your Adventure In Grand Rapids
Life Adventure In Grand Rapids
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Route Map
Rapid Rewards Partners
Flight Service
The “If” List

Spirit Magazine - August 2013