by Patricia Gilliam

Created on: August 02, 2008   Last Updated: August 03, 2008

Education is not only being influenced by technology in our current society, it's being driven by it. With the Internet especially, it is now possible for children and young adults to pursue learning on a very customized level. This ability to go beyond the "one-education-fits-all" education model is what I believe is going to lead to some of the most innovative and creative generations of graduates that we've ever seen as a country. This should be seen as a good thing whether the child is in public school, private school, or home schooled.

As a society we're already seeing this in my generation-Generation Y. I'm a typical 24-year-old in that I like going to superhero movies and playing video games (some books stereotype that it's all we like to do), but I've also learned enough about the Internet and technology that I'll likely retire from ever needing a job before the age of 30. Though I was educated in public schools that had both their good and bad points as far as the educational environment, I've never been afraid to pursue something I wanted to learn about on my own.

If educational systems of any kind would be willing to teach "the basics" and then give students some freedom and flexibility over their educations, I think a lot of people would be surprised by the results. It's not just the technology-it's having the right encouragement and leadership in a classroom as well.

The Internet has really opened up opportunities for mentoring as well. A marine biologist in the field isn't going to have the ability to fit 1,000 people on a small boat in Alaska, but he or she can fit a web cam. While it's not as good as actually being there, it is better than memorizing facts from a textbook in many cases. Imagine Google Streets taken to the next degree to Google "Landmarks" of historical sites-it's this visual and interactive element that some student learning styles have been needing for a long time.

Computers are also getting smaller and cheaper as well. There's a lot you can do with your cell phone now that computers 5 years ago couldn't accomplish. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years we're all carrying small laptops (or phones with large screens) with an extraordinary amount of power compared to the top-of-the-line computers we have today. That's where it seems to be heading.

If the right combination of teachers, mentors, and technology can be used to create an educational environment for customized learning, students are going to have an amazing opportunity. It's going to take time to fine tune and adjust, but I believe we're moving in a better direction.

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