Windows on the Future: Education in the Age of Technology

`I would like to see this book become required reading for every teacher and administrator. Its simplified descriptions make it easily understood by non-technical people. I will make sure that all of my class read it' - Shirley Campbell, Director, Computer and Curriculum Inquiry Center, University of Pittsburgh, PA Windows on the Future is not a technical test per se, but one designed to help the teacher cope with the changes technology creates. It contains a number of ideas and strategies that will help the teacher more quickly accept and adopt new technology, so the they are able to adequately prepare students for success in the technology-rich world the students face.

Table of Contents:
Foreword - David D. Thornburg, Ph.D. Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. Window 1: The Power of Paradigm 2. Window 2: Mounting Paradigm Pressure 3. Window 3: Assessing Your Paradigm 4. Window 4: The Technology of Change 5. Window 5: Moore′s Law 6. Window 6: Looking at the Road Ahead 7. Window 7: It′s Time for Education to Catch Up 8. Window 8: Education in the Future 9. Window 9: New Skills for Students 10. Window 10: New Roles for Educators 11. Window 11: The Need for Vision Recommended Readings References Index

About the Author :
Ted McCain is coordinator of instructional technology for Maple Ridge Secondary School in Vancouver, BC. He also has taught computer networking, graphic design, and desktop publishing for Okanagan College, Kelowna, BC. He is the author of six books on the future, effective teaching, educational technology, and graphic design. In 1997, McCain received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence for his work in developing a real-world technology curriculum that prepares students for employment in technology directly out of high school. For the past twenty years, McCain has done consulting work for businesses and school districts on effective teaching for the digital generation and the implementation of instructional technology. His clients have included Apple Computer, Microsoft, Aldus, and Toyota, as well as many school districts and educational associations in both the United States and Canada. He is passionate in his belief that schools must change so that they can effectively prepare students for the rest of their lives. Ian Jukes has been a teacher, an administrator, writer, consultant, university instructor, and keynote speaker. He is the director of the InfoSavvy Group, an international consulting group that provides leadership and program development in the areas of assessment and evaluation, strategic alignment, curriculum design and publication, professional development, planning, change management, hardware and software acquisition, information services, customized research, media services, and online training as well as conference keynotes and workshop presentations. Over the past 10 years, Jukes has worked with clients in more than 40 countries and made more than 7,000 presentations, typically speaking to between 300,000 and 350,000 people a year. His Committed Sardine Blog is read by more than 78,000 people in 75 countries.

Review :
"This is the best synthesis of reading strategies that I’ve seen!" "McCain and Jukes present their assertions in plain language and gear their volume toward all readers, regardless of their experience of comfort with technology, who work in the educational technology field."  "The authors help dispel teachers’ fear of technology, and they encourage those who already have the desire to teach to begin exploring new ways to make their special field compelling and vibrant to members of a younger generation. This is a book designed to inspire and encourage teachers who have put off facing the new demands and opportunities of the computer age."  "I would like to see this book become required reading for every teacher or administrator before they break for the summer. Its simplified descriptions make it easily understood by non-technical people. I will make sure that all of my classes read it!" "McCain and Jukes build a case that the Information Age has not yet peaked and awaken us to the challenge of the dramatic technological changes we will surely see within our life time." "Windows on the Future summarizes key developments and concepts making them readily understandable. Though I’ve been a member of the World Future Society and an avid reader of books for over 30 years, I am not aware of any other publication like this for practicing educators. This would be very valuable for professional development study groups." "[The authors] present their assertions in plain language and gear their volume toward all readers, regardless with their experience or comfort with technology…"