Levin, D. & Arefeh, S.  (2002). Digital Disconnect:  The widening gap between internet-savvy students and their schools.  Pew Internet & American Life Project:  Washington, DC.

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/27/cd/15.pdf

This article explained how students are slowly becoming more proficient in using technology tools, specifically the Internet.  Since they are doing so at a rate faster than the schools can keep up with, it provides a problem of passing the responsibility to the teachers to find adequate professional development so that they can keep up with the students.   These students, called millenials, being born after 1982, learn differently than their mostly Generation X parents.  They use the Internet for various purposes, such as virtual textbooks, reference purposes, virtual tutors and study shortcuts, virtual study groups, and virtual guidance counselor.  They are more aware of current events because they can just 'see' them on the web, whereas their parents had to catch the event through a scheduled newscast.  They don't open books to find answers - they just "Google it" now.  While in school, it is up to the teachers to decide whether or not to acknowledge that students have these 'talents' in using technology tools.  Depending on the availability of the Internet in schools, the authors found that there was a definite difference in which schools implemented the Internet into their daily activities, and which did so only once in a while.  Through interviews with their participants, which were high school students, the authors also found that “...professional development and technical assistance for teachers are crucial for effective integration of the Internet into curricula."

This article relates to TF I, because it stresses that teachers need assistance from either professional development or actual tech facilitators to help them implement technology into their teachings.  It is the tech facilitator who is the 'go-to' for teachers when they feel comfortable implementing such tools, but need guidance in doing so.  TF I states that tech facilitators should have the proper knowledge and skills ready so that they are able to assist the teachers in the areas which they seek assistance.

The article itself was very interesting, because it really made sense what the students were saying.  It's true:  kids don't even think twice about using a textbook or encyclopedia when they can use the Internet.  Is there anything wrong with this?  Absolutely not.  It is a tool that is available to them, and makes life easier, why wouldn’t you use it?  The article really outlined the student responses well, and gave the reader a clear picture of what the students want out of their teachers.  In conclusion, we need to change our 'cheese' and start to close the gap between the knowledge of our students and ourselves as teachers.  We as tech facilitators and media specialists now have the knowledge and skills to help close this gap.