The number of websites, online tools, games, etc. available to society is limitless. It seems that every day a new "must have/must use" technology is promoted to us. Just this morning I read that Google is soon going to release a Facebook competitor. My first response was 'Why? Do we really need another FB?' And then I thought, 'Why not?' It's just another avenue for people to express themselves and connect with each other.
This is the nature of our love affair with technology, and with progress in general. We are attracted to the newest, fastest, coolest that are on offer.
Nobody is forced to use these new technologies. I have many friends who refuse to sign up for FB accounts. However, the children we teach ARE participating in 21st Century technologies and they need to be taught the skills to be able to confidently and competently use these technologies in a responsible way. TLs need to ensure that the curriculum taught in their school supports the information needs of the learners.
One of the statements in Warlick (2007) resonated with me. He says that "We can no longer be the gatekeepers. We must, instead, teach children how to be their own gatekeepers, and this is an ethical imperative." Having heard of a number of students in my school using social networking sites inappropriately, this reinforces the importance of learners being taught the IL skills to manage their expanding information needs in an ethical manner.
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