Understand "the power"

There is a new power that each of us now have, that really did not exist 20 years ago.  But what is this power?

It is NOT a "technology thing."

When you give a small child a crayon, it is not seen as a crayon thing, it is seen as a tool to express themselves. 

When you give a grade school child a pencil, it is not seen as a pencil thing, it s seen as a tool to communicate.

"The power" is a communications thing!

Posting to facebook, posting to a blog, texting, tweeting, are forms of communication.

You now have the Power to reach people who think like you, that you never would have dreamed of.  You now have the power to tell people about your products and services in places you never would have thought of.

The power is that of a tremendous communications tool.

The power that can help you to control time and space, as you get in touch with people you have lost contact with from thirty years ago, in countries all over the globe.

The Power to get a message out quickly and efficiently, as you can reach hundreds, thousands, even millions of people, in just a matter of seconds.  You will be able to get your message out, in ways that were not humanly possible not all that long ago.

Technology is just a set of tools in a toolbox. 

Tools perform tasks. Tasks lead to outcomes.  Focus not on the tools that you use, but the outcome you desire. 

If you were asking someone to build a house, would you ask questions on hammers and saws?  Or would you discuss what you wanted the house to look like?

Whether we integrating technology into our classrooms, or our office space, the biggest mistake people make is figuring out which tools to buy, before they have a plan for what tasks they wish to accomplish.

"The power" has all happened so quickly.

There are a lot a parallels between Television and the internet. The commercial version of the internet we know today was born in the 1990's. Based on various comparisons, you can say that the internet of today is at a level of maturity of television in the 1950's.

This set of tools are not yet complete, there is still a lot of growing up to do.