
With the highly advancing technology coming into hand on an everydayoccasion now we are left to evolve with it. While this means daily at home and at work, we prepare for our future through schooling. There is no better way in learning about how to use the tools that guide our future than to use them in first hand accounts. To get to this point we need to integrate our new understandings of technology and ease them into our future leaders of America, our children going through primary and secondary schooling.This starts with the teachers. When asking professionals in their respected fields how or why they joined this field, some say money, but most agree on the fact that they enjoy and want to expand this field of interest. Their interest is always sparked by something great, a role model that once showed them how great a field like history or math can be. While our parents our main role models throughout life, our teachers will forever be the ones opening the doors to our interests and futures. They are supposed to inspire and motivate us to learn about the great wonders of the world. They are supposed to show us intellectual aspects we have wondered and questioned about for our earliest years and develop into the best aspects of our understanding of math, science, history and the liberal arts. All of this while still preparing us for our future and our roles in American society. The greatest teachers will always be remembered in their students minds, and to this day leaders of our country can source their initial interest and excellence to these teachers. These inspiring individuals shouldn't come by slim numbers. To solve our nation’s educational system faults we need to first make great teachers the majority not the minority. And secondly have these teachers incorporate our future tools, technology, into every lesson assessment rather than scare away and use the less motivating, traditional techniques. 

An approach taken to incorporate technology with traditional and modern learning includes a system known as “flipped math.” With this specific self paced option, students are given videos of either their own teacher ,or another professional in the math field, explaining a math concept online. In these videos the traditional process of first defining the rules and exceptions of certain concepts followed by examples give the same approach as if learning in person. The students homework is to go home and watch at least one video on the lesson. While going though this training at home, students are given the opportunity and encouraged to pause the video and attempt a given problem by the instructor. When ready the student will unpause the video and check their work. Instead of the traditional method of doing assignments filled with 10-30 problems a night, students, learn and prepare questions for their in-class teacher the next day. The following day starts with questions from students and practice assignments with the aid of the teacher “floating” around the class to adhere to questions. When students feel prepared they are able to test their abilities on lesson quizzes covering the material they learned and practiced over the past 24-48 hours (depending on daily or block schedules.) After a certain number of sections students are able to test their knowledge and understanding of the concepts over multiple lessons, called exams or tests. This “flipped math” process flips the traditional classroom learning to at home, and the practice problems to the classroom with a teacher always nearby for further explanation rather than isolated practice that drains students at home. The part that parents appreciate the most is the fact that this course is solely self paced so no one gets “left behind.” This method perfectly combines the traditional teaching method with the evolving technological society of today’s world. While this has been tested throughout schools and especially in the DODEA school systems this will soon be a reality throughout the world. In an experiment performed between 2 classes, flipped math test results averaged 15% higher than traditional math class results on an exam. 15% in most schools mean an entire letter grade and a half higher than normal.(Blanton,2013) Another experiment taken to the next level introduced an interactive tablet to enhance the students learning even more. The experimental group (students using the interactive tablets) had an average of almost 7% higher scores when tested against the control group (traditional flipped learning methods.) Imagine if we could introduce these new learning options to every kid around the world. Students could comprehend almost 25% more material than previously possible.  

This incorporation of technology is not just in the math department, In a survey done with the College Board and the National Writing Project, “roughly 75 percent of 2,462 teachers surveyed said that the Internet and search engines had a “mostly positive” impact on student research skills.”(Richtell) These studies went even further and added that results have shown students to be more productive with self-sufficient research. With this conclusion we can assume the increase in self-sufficient research is the result of increased motivation and attitude. Not only can the positive results be shown on paper but from tests but these new methods of teaching are making students more interested in learning and exploring these interests. Giving every student an equal opportunity to access unlimited information the capabilities are endless.  Instead of studying previous documents of rhetoric and analyses such as Martin Luthers “I Have a Dream”, Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” and Luther’s “Letter from Birmingham jail” students can assess more modern pieces and have new analyses, rather than the same opinions millions of others have had since then. Students can search for essays and articles that spark their own interests and still contain those aspects of rhetoric and analyses of literature. With the proper use motivating teachers and today’s technology we can boost test scores, content comprehension, motivation to learn and attitude towards learning. 

In my last example of the use of technology to evolve learning and teaching, I will be referring to a class that started using a math program called “jump” to jump over obstacles faced in the classroom and in students heads. Jump is a program made by a man named John Mighton while working as a tutor in Toronto, Canada. While some saw him as a normal successful teacher, most saw him as a miracle working. Helping even the least talented in math end up being able to comprehend and practice college level math on their own. His secret was to take complex math problems and split them up into simple steps for every individual to understand. Mighton explained how the reason most students end up “unsuccessful” is that teachers expect students to run before they walk. They don’t  preach the basics which math is built on, as a current college student in a science/math major, even solving the most complex levels of math rely on the simplest and earliest lessons from grade school. Jump is used by more than 85,000 students in schools and at home. Results from a survey show that test scores have increased by almost 30% and minimum scores starting at 80%. This program not only increased test scores but also “diminished math anxiety” and “growth in confidence.” Data has also shown all students to fall within the top 5% of Math students. The students reacted with smiling faces, Mighton stated,”They like to see change and success like a video game.” Kids feel powerful when they are doing well in math, this sprouts healthy competition and the kids love it”(Bornstein.) 

After the addition of new technology in the classroom, students will still not be able to reach their full potential until one more condition is met. Students need good teachers to emphasize how interesting learning can be. Show the students what that information can do for them in the future. Good teachers are underrated and underpaid. In order to create more good teachers, we need to increase their salaries and increase the requirements and standards for teachers. Going to school for a degree in Education isn't enough. They need a way to train teachers how to relate to the students in their rooms. The students need a way to trust teachers to believe they can get out of the cities and bad places they were born. Only with education will you truly become successful, knowledge is power. Until we make the good teachers the majority rather than the minority we will forever fall behind the curve in the education department. Students feel neglected and don’t feel like they can trust their teachers, that their teachers “are just doing it for the money.” And although you can say teachers don't get paid much, it's so easy to become a teacher with the lack of requirements needed. The fact that these individuals can make it or break it for millions of students throughout the U.S. should be coveted more than ever before. 

Many have looked at the issue and turned their head resulting in no change, without the necessary budget it's almost inevitable that nothing will get better. Teachers need to be trained how to relate to kids of all ages, how to ask questions that will spur productive answers and thinking. Instead of asking questions that can only be responded with a “yes” or a “no”, ask questions that explain their foundings. Answers that can be concluded by out of the box thinking. Answers that by eliminating all other possibilities, considering all factors step by step. By increasing the pay and abilities of teachers, we will be able to build the foundation to our country’s and nation’s future.  The best teachers I have had have been able to implement technology in the class to the perfect amount. With instructional videos, examples of real life scenarios and tools to help out thinking process, teachers have been able to motivate and encourage students with simple yet effective methods. All it takes is the time and effort from teachers to want to help the students with modern technology. Teachers also should be expertise in technology. With all the it issues happening daily and newly implementation of technology teachers have no other choice. If we want our future leaders to become expertise then their teachers have to be expertise. Students have high expectations for their teachers, after all they are influencing their lives on the daily. Teachers should exceed expectations not show students why the bare minimum will get you through life. There’s more than just 9-5 desk job. Students should want to change the future and have an impact, with their teachers in the back of their head always motivating them. Why must students search online all day for explanations of problems that their teachers should be answering. One step at a time, with technology and the role of teachers, students will be happy to go to school, be proud of their academic capabilities. And will come home to their parents bragging about their great teachers instead of complaining about them. 

While some would talk about the budget issues in our country, not only is the economy increasing, but this calls for acknowledgement on the political level. With the help from Americans all over, we can emphasize the importance of our future. Slowly but surely we will make the change. Also if there is not a budget for teachers, then implement the flip math system. In Baumholder, Germany an American Dodea highschool, 2 teachers teach all algebra, algebra 2, precalculus, and calculus classes using the flip math system. While both getting the presidential teacher award. Those two teachers sparked interests in almost every student they met. These possibilities are not impossible. Increasing the salary of teachers will spark interest in college students and young individuals who want to make an impact but need money. 

In conclusion we will continuously fall short of other nations in the education field untill we use our highly valued technology and individuals to enhance our future leaders. The traditional teaching methods have fallen short of motivating and increasing interest along with attitude. Student also believe that traditional methods are outdated and too many individuals learn differently and it is no longer effective. While some of our “good teachers” teach traditional methods, we then need to encourage the incorporation of technology. Programs like “flip math” and “jump” can let students focus solely on their own capabilities and step by step math. In order to get our students to go through the door we need teachers to open them up, give them the opportunity to become successful. 
