Personas

I think that as a teacher it is imperative to maintain a professional persona, digital or otherwise. As teachers we are role models for America’s youth. As difficult as it may seem at times, we need to act appropriately inside and outside of school. To me this means do not do anything illegal or unethical. You always hear stories about the crazy science teacher smoking pot during their break, teachers drinking, driving, and getting DUIs, and more recently teachers posting inappropriate things on social networking sites. The question is do you want to be that teacher? I don’t and I hope that everyone else reading this blog doesn’t either. Therefore, we should always err on the side of caution. If you think something may get you in trouble, don’t do it. It’s as simple as that. However, I’m not saying that teachers cannot have lives of their own. If you are going to go to a bar and get sloshed, maybe go somewhere outside of your school district so the chances of running into a parent are less and have a designated driver. If you smoke pot, legally or otherwise, do it in the privacy of your own home on your own time. Lastly, if you are a member of a social networking site, Facebook for example, set your page to private and add only true friends. If you feel the need to add coworkers, create a second Facebook for your school self and one for your personal life.

Social networking sites could be great teaching tools. In fact, one project that I would like my students to do is to create a Facebook page for someone in history. It would not be on Facebook, I have a template that they would use with Microsoft PowerPoint, but it is inspired by Facebook. Also, a teacher’s Facebook that would be open to all students would be a great way to keep in contact with the class outside of school. You could post information about sporting events or any other extracurricular activity. All social networking sites are not bad. They could be great teaching tools. It is all in how it is used. 

Ethical Use of Technology

         I believe that my responsibility as a teacher regarding ethical uses of technology by my students and myself is very important. I believe that it is my job as a teacher to talk to my students about the ethical uses of technology, but also to lead by example. However, I am not their parent and I cannot tell students what they can and cannot do outside of school. The best I can do is tell students what is legal, what is illegal, and the possible repercussions for breaking the law, and then hope they make right decisions.

     When I was younger, say around 16, I downloaded music that I did not pay for. In fact, I believe that I may have used Kazaa, which I had forgotten about until hearing the name in this weeks lecture, but it has been so long that I am not positive that Kazaa was the site I used. However, I am sure that my music downloads were far fewer than many of my classmates. It just so happens that my car c.d. player would not play burnt c.d.’s. Also, at that time my mom, sister, and I lived in a trailer. In a trailer you have absolutely no privacy, as the walls are basically made of wood paneling. Therefore, if I tried to listen to my music I was often told to turn it down or shut it off. As a result I didn’t download much music because I had no real place to listen to it. Otherwise, things might have been different. After people began to get in trouble for downloading things off the Internet for free, I stopped completely. More recently I started downloading music, but I always use iTunes and I always pay for it. I do not feel bad about downloading and listening to the music that I did not pay for in my youth, for two reasons. First and foremost, because I really didn’t know it was bad. Everyone was doing it and I was really naive. It never occurred to me that I was actually ripping someone else off. It’s a popular saying because its true, ignorance is bliss. It doesn’t make it right I know, but that’s they way it was. Secondly, for the reasons mentioned above, I didn’t download that much. Again it doesn’t make it right, but it could have been much worse. Even though I do not feel bad about doing it in the past, it is not something I would ever do now. If I did I would feel bad because I do know that it is wrong. Also, I don’t think students should download free music, even though I did it when I was younger. I know that it sounds hypocritical but the times have changed and students should know that it is illegal and morally wrong. If they do not know, then it is my responsibility as a teacher to enlighten them on the issue.

     Within my classroom I will take several steps to ensure that the use of technology and media content is ethical. First of all, I will purchase any video clips that I show or music that I play, even if I have to buy an entire video for a ten-minute clip or a song for a one-minute segment. I will follow the Fair Use guidelines for anything else I may download of the Internet. I will share the Fair Share guidelines with my students, and I will also monitor any projects that they hand in to ensure they are following the guidelines.

     As a teacher the best way I know to ensure that my students’ experiences online are safe and effective is to discuss with students what is appropriate and be observant as a teacher and monitor the students the best I can. The school will block many sites, however, some inappropriate sites slip through the cracks. If the students know what is inappropriate and are monitored, there will be fewer incidences of inappropriate behavior with technology.

Creativity

I enjoyed the lectures given by Sir Robinson. I thought he was extremely entertaining. He had a great sense of humor, and it made the videos interesting to watch. I agree with what he proposes within both videos to some degree. I think that creativity should be encouraged. Also, I agree with him completely in the idea that children are not afraid to make mistakes. It is school that instills this fear of failure in children. That is a terrible side effect of our educational system, or better yet all educational systems. School should be the place where students try different things, make mistakes, and find what works for them.

While there were several ideas that I agreed with, there were several points Sir Robinson made that I was unsettled with. For one, he proposes that creativity is as important as literacy and we should treat both with the same status. I am not quite sure if it is because of my love of reading or because I have seen the dismal literacy levels with in our own inner-city schools, but this statement brings about a strong negative response from me. Literacy should be thee most important subject in school. With proper reading skills you can potentially teach yourself anything. With proper writing skills you can communicate with anyone. To compare teaching dance, theatre, art, etc. with teaching literacy is absolutely ridiculous. However, if he had said creativity was as important as mathematics that would have been something I could have gotten on board with. Besides adding, subtracting, division, multiplications along with decimals and fractions, what use is math to those that don’t need it for their future careers? I’m sorry to all you math majors out there, but it was probably my least favorite subject and as soon as I could leave it behind I did.

Also, in both videos Sir Robinson brings up the issue of ADD or ADHD. He talks about it light heartedly and even makes a comment along the lines of this was before ADD was around, otherwise this child would have been simply medicated. I fully believe that both ADD and ADHD is something that is frequently over diagnosed, and is often used as a scapegoat. However, I do not want to dismiss is so quickly.

I see a similarity between what Sir Robinson is saying about creativity and technology in school. Most schools do not allow students to have cell phones and limit use of technology, maybe because its not available and maybe because some teachers do not know how to use it themselves. It is used less in school, than it should be. Students are being stifled. Also, with the use of technology and creativity in the classroom, all subjects can be made interesting to students... well maybe not math. Just kidding! Please no hate messages from you math lovers out there.

The Digital Divide

First and foremost I do not think that the use of technology in the classroom is a personal choice that teachers should make. The use of technology in the classroom is a necessity.  As elementary and secondary school teachers we are preparing students for life after high school, and students will need to know how to use technology regardless of whether or not they are proceeding to college or a job. Technology is present everywhere in today’s society, and as educators we must prepare students for that.

I did not have as much access to computers or the Internet as my peers, up until around my senior year of high school. For my full technological history you may see my first blog. I do feel as though this has put me at a disadvantage. While I am on the brink of being a digital native, however I think I am actually a digital immigrant because of the access I lacked. However, I do not think that the lack of resources made a difference in my high school education. Ten years ago when I was getting my high school education the use of technology in school was minimum and we were never required to do any work outside of school on the Internet.

As a teacher I do feel that I have a responsibility to bridge the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” in my classroom. This is for a few reasons. One, I feel that life is unfair enough, that if I can play a part in providing some equality to my students, I will feel as though I am doing something positive. Secondly, I hope to give everyone a chance to be productive members of society. I want to give all my students the opportunity to go to college, be successful, and reach their goals. This can only be achieved by bridging the gap.

Consumption

         Watching the video and reading the statics I am sad to say that I see a connection in my own life between the amount of media content that I consume and what I believe to be true about the world. For example, the part about women held especially true for me. I remember thinking in high school that I was out of shape, and being extremely self-conscious about my looks. However, looking back I was being ridiculous. I am 5’7” and at the time weighed 120 pounds. I should have never felt the way that I did. Yet, I felt pressure from society to be thinner. I realize that I do feel worse about myself after watching television or browsing the Internet. Also, I notice the “boys will be boys” attitude in both the media and real life.

         I think it is important that students learn to create multimedia content. However, I do not think it is nearly as important as learning to read and write text. Writing has become so informal and I feel as though it is being neglected. These days, with the massive amount of texting, AIMing, emails, etc, people have become extremely lax in their writing. Abbreviating has become so popular that people actually say L-O-L. Also, capitalizing and punctuation has been suffering. I think that schools should focus first on text writing and the creation of multimedia content should come second. 

Online vs Traditional Courses

Can computers replace teachers in traditional classrooms? No. If a computer replaces the teacher in a classroom, it is no longer a traditional classroom. However, is it feasible for a student to learn from a computer as he or she would from a teacher in a traditional classroom? I am sure in some circumstances yes. Yet, I do believe that having a teacher in a traditional classroom setting can be beneficial in ways that no computer can be.

            The thinking and reasoning used by Kaplan, Kahn, Jukes, and Taylor are potentially changing the game of teaching. Studies are being done that indicate not only are students processing information differently, but also their brains are potentially changing. They are adapting to the vast amounts of technology being thrown at them. This will drastically change how teachers teach, what information is taught, what classrooms look like, and eventually what schools will look like.

            With the way things are changing, I have no doubt that in time the job description for teachers will be different than it is now. According to the plan, I will have my teaching certificate at the end of December. I fully expect each year to be vastly different than the year before!

            Not only will each year be different, but also each class will be different. While some classes may be taught completely on-line, others maybe hybrid courses, and some maybe taught traditionally.  I believe that all courses, even music, art, math, science, and literature can be taught online; however, I think that students benefit from being in a classroom with a teacher. There are things that a computer cannot do. A computer cannot build personal relationships with students, encourage students to do their best, and a computer cannot give students advice or relate to students.

            There is something physical about a school experience that is as important as content covered in an online class. Socializing with people, learning how to interact with others is an integral part of education. I fear that a student that gets their education solely online might not develop socially.

            I think in order for students to benefit from school both students and schools need to adapt. Educational environments need to adapt to better suit today’s students. Students need to adapt to the school environment by learning to follow rules set forth. Students need to realize that learning can be fun, even without playing games. 

            Depending on the student the potential flexibility gained in an online class may outweigh the benefits a person-to-person experience. However, I think it completely depends on the student. There are some students who wouldn’t benefit from an online course. For example, I despise online classes. They are monotonous to me. I enjoy going to class, speaking with others, and learning in a conventional environment. I would give up the flexibility of an online course in order to have the social interactions with others.

            Online classes, hybrid classes, and the overall use of technology in the classroom are not farces or passing fads. The fact is that today’s students are changing and schools need to find a way to meet the needs of these students. 

Research, Electronic Constructivism, and Web 2.0

         I collect the better part of my research, by searching for it through the Internet. The majority of the time, I use Google and simply search for key terms. However, if the professor I am doing research for requires us to have multiple sources, from different types of media, I will get the information I need from the Internet and then add little factoids from books or journals, in order to satisfy any requirements. I never use Wikipedia as a source, but I will always read what Wikipedia says and then find other sources to back it up.

         I definitely see myself in the descriptions given underneath the heading, “We are seeing students…” I am frequently overwhelmed by the amount of information given on each topic. I am sure that I have spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for an answer I could have found within minutes by looking in a book instead of the Internet. I am guilty of not always checking to see if my resources are credible. Lastly, as much as I hate to admit this there have been times when I have simply “regurgitated” someone else’s thought. I would never purposefully plagiarize, but I would reword something and not add my own ideas or thoughts.

         I thought the article, “Electronic Constructivism” by Maureen Brown Yoder, was very interesting. In fact, I agree with the basic message of the article far more than Marc Prensky’s article, “Digital Native, Digital Immigrant.” Yoder described projects that students could work on with each other, in order to teach themselves. Students learn about the material, but also learn to question and analyze information. Prensky basically says that students should play games in order to learn. I find this idea ridiculous. I think that games are a great tool to aid in the education of students, but that should not be the only method. I believe that teachers should engage students, however, games are not the only way to gain and keep students attention.

         As a teacher it is important that I assist my students in time management. With proper time management students use their research time more efficiently and more meaningfully. If there were one sure way to do this, the teacher that figured it out would be a millionaire. However, different methods work for different teachers, and different groups of students. I honestly have not figured out a way that works for me. The best I can say for now is that I will monitor students as they work on projects. Also, I will give students the option that if they stay on task I will give them an allotted amount of time at the end of class to browse the Internet. Hopefully this will keep students from getting distracted while working on their projects.

         I use a several aspects of Web 2.0. However, none more than Facebook. I have had a facebook account for over five years. These days I have notifications sent directly to my phone. I also spend a lot of time on Facebook, on a regular basis. I check it throughout the day, look at pictures, and message friends. I also use Google Docs occasionally. Mostly, for reviewing papers and assignments sent to me through email. I have created a podcast, and I have also blogged. 

Digital Nation

The video, “Digital Nation,” caught my attention immediately.  It began with a family all in the same house, but all in their own little worlds. Each individual was using technology in a different way. I honestly felt bad for that family. I thought these people don’t even talk to each other. I thought what has happened to the American family, I would never have that for my family. Then I though about it, and realized that, that is my family.  My boyfriend and I will sit on the couch, each with our laptops, not even speaking to one another. He checks his updates on his fantasy sports, while I check my updates on facebook.  When I go out with friends we spend a majority of our time on our phones texting others or checking out facebook, discussing what other people post on facebook, or taking pictures to post immediately on facebook so that others can see how fabulous our lives are. It actually shocked me. I realize that I felt the same way as the narrator, who happened to be the mother in the family shown. She said something along the lines of, “ … it kind of snuck up on us, I didn’t see it coming.” I could completely identify with what she was saying, along with many of the other individuals that also commented. They were saying things such as, “everywhere you go people are looking at a screen,” and “ I can’t live without my blackberry.” I hate to admit it but I’m one of these people, and as a future teacher I cannot help but contemplate the effects of this technology in the field of education.

A large portion of this video addressed the issue of technology in education. On one hand there are the numerous benefits to using technology to educate students. For example, with the use of the Internet students have information on any subject, in any discipline, at their fingertips. If students don’t know how to do something they can simply Google it, and the answer is right there. These days people Google recipes, hairstyles, relationship tips, etc; homework problems are no different.  On the other hand, we have all the negative consequences, such as, students being distracted in class and therefore not doing as well as they should. Some people believe that students are being “dumbed” down because of technology. Evidence of this stated in the video is that, statistically students do not have the reading and writing skills that students had just ten years ago. However, students do not see it this way. They believe that they have the ability to multitask and still do their best at each task; meanwhile classic psychology argues that in general our brains can’t multitask. I tend to side with those that believe that latter, that think this multitasking environment is a disservice to students and teachers. I’ve sat in a class held at Grand Valley State University, where the teacher allowed laptops, and watched the person in front of me watch a video on their laptop computer. Others are on facebook, instant messaging friends, or emailing others. The idea that all this can be going on and the individuals partaking in these activities can still absorb the teacher’s lesson is absurd.  I’ve said it before that I think using technology in education can be extremely beneficial. However, it has to be used appropriately. Letting students have cell phones, iPads, tablets, laptops, etc without limits, in class is going to the extreme and I feel that it will have adverse effects.

Aside from the implications in the field of education, there are also drastic changes being made to the workplace through the use of technology. The most significant being the use of Second World, the video explained how Second World was being used at IBM. The technology involved astonished me. I thought it was amazing; people in different countries can meet in a virtual world and hold meetings as if they were in the same room. It is a great way for companies to save money and it is more personal than a phone call or email. One person commented that they needed to change clothes before they held their meeting because their avatar was wearing the same outfit as another individual. You can even put your own face onto an avatar. It makes it more personal.

However, all the technology being founded is not good. One segment of this video made me sick. The segment on the advancement of military technology was something that I was not comfortable with. I will not get into the civilian casualties mentioned, or the fact that soldiers had to wear flight suits in order to remind themselves that they were fighting a real war. However, the fact that the military was recruiting individuals with the Army Experience Center, where young people can go to play video games as long as they would like for free, is absolutely ridiculous. I could not help but agree with the protestors: war is not a game; there is no reset button in war. There are so many things wrong with this whole idea, and I think it completely desensitizes people to war and killing people.

Technology Integration

            I definitely feel that I have a responsibility to use technology within my classroom. Technology is an amazing tool and it can definitely enhance the field of education. However, I do not believe that using technology can make a lesson fundamentally better. Using technology just to use technology is lazy. On the other hand, using technology to compliment learning can be extremely beneficial.

            After listening to this weeks lecture, I realize I am very similar to Jim. I am wary of new technology. I am very uncomfortable when I do not understand something new. Yet, after learning even the basics of a new program, or piece of equipment, I become more comfortable. I then try to find ways I can use new technology to my advantage. For example, smart boards confuse me. At first I was quite intimidated by them, and then I had the opportunity to play with one. The things that the smart board can do amaze me. I still am not comfortable using one, but I definitely would like to use it again to get comfortable, and I would love it in the classroom.

            Marc Prensky’s article Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, describes the generational gap between those that have grown up with technology, digital natives, and those that are learning to use technology, digital immigrants. Prensky argues that the differences between digital natives and digital immigrants are vast. I couldn’t agree more. The way information is obtained and processed varies greatly between the two groups. However, I do not believe that if you are a digital immigrant you will always be a digital immigrant. With the right attitude towards technology, it is possible for someone to become fluent and lose their native accent. I also agree that there is no turning back. With the exception of a great cataclysmic event such as 2012, technology is here to stay.

My Technology History

The first experience I had with a computer was in the fifth grade. The computer lab was directly across the hall from my classroom. Mr. Anderson would line the class up and then march us across the hall. Once in the lab we would work on typing. It has been so long that I do not remember if we did drills or played games, but I will always remember the sayings used to help memorize the placement of the keys: quick ask Zoe, what stops x-rays, even dogs can’t, red fish vanish, than grow bigger, yaks hear noises, under Jack’s mattress, I keep commas, over long periods. The beginning letter of each word corresponded with the same letter on the keyboard, up and down and across the keyboard.

             Then came the day when my cousin got a computer. This must have been sometime during my middle school years. I was extremely jealous. However, I did benefit from her new technology, but it was not the same as having my own. It was purchased to assist us with schoolwork, yet we rarely used it for scholastic purposes. We would play Oregon Trail or talk to random people in chat rooms. I do not think I will ever forget the buzzing and beeping of signing on to America Online. It will always be a pleasant sound from my childhood.

            During high school I was finally able to talk my mother into getting me a computer. I would need one for college anyways, so why not get one a little earlier? We did not get the Internet until a few years after we got the actual computer. However, I was still blissfully happy. I would play Where in the world is Carmen San Diego, Monopoly, Chess, and another game that helped with typing. I rarely used it for schoolwork.

            Actually in school, I did not do much with computers until college. Besides typing lessons, there was not much I did with computers in the classroom. Other students elected to take Business Technology. However, I could not tell you much of what students did in this particular class. I always signed up for debate, theatre, or teacher assisting. For random classes, we would type up reports on the computer. Having said that, my K-12 formal education would not have been much different without the use of technology. 

UNIT 3: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY

I am a social studies major. I chose social studies because I wanted to teach history. I chose history because I find it extremely interesting while many students do not. With the use of technology in the classroom, I can further my goals by making history interesting for students. 

My idea of integrating technology into the classroom is simple. I want to cover the material using the textbook, YouTube, primary sources found on-line and anywhere else I can find them, videos, mp3’s, etc. I want to use technology to teach the students, not to replace what I am teaching them. I want to assess the students using just as many different methods. They can create podcasts, PowerPoint presentations, videos, web pages, etc. However, I do think there is a place for writing papers, quizzes, and exams. I want to use technology in the classroom, not have technology take over the classroom. 

UNIT 2: TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS

Grades 6-8:

-The standard is:

6-8.CI. Creativity and Innovation—By the end of grade 8 each student will:

The benchmark is:

6-8.CI.2. Create an original project (e.g., presentation, web page, newsletter, information brochure) using a variety of media (e.g., animations, graphs, charts, audio, graphics, video) to present content information to an audience

Then in the classroom you might:

Have the students create a webpage for a person they have researched. For example, I am currently in a 7^th grade Ancient History class; I think an interesting and fun project would be for students to create a facebook page for a Greek god or goddess during the unit on Ancient Greece.

-The standard is:

6-8.CC. Communication and Collaboration—By the end of grade 8 each student will:

The benchmark is:

6-8.CC.1. Use digital resources (e.g., discussion groups, blogs, podcasts, videoconferences, Moodle, Blackboard) to collaborate with peers, experts, and other audiences

Then in the classroom you might:

Have the students read different novels and create a podcast. For example, in an English class groups of four could each read a different book and then create a podcast of the book. My minor is English and we actually did this in my teaching English class. I was a bit nervous at first because it was something that I had never done before. However, it was a lot of fun and I was proud of the work my group did. After the work was complete we had to present the finished product to the class. You could also do this in a history class, and have the students read different historic novels.

-The standard is:

6-8.RI. Research and Information Literacy—By the end of grade 8 each student will:

The benchmark is:

6-8.RI.3. Understand that using information from a single Internet source might result in the reporting of erroneous facts and that multiple sources should always be researched

Then in the classroom you might:

Print off information on a specific topic from one particular site, I would use Wikipedia. Then in groups go over the information and check it against other sources. This is valuable for a couple reasons. It shows students that Wikipedia is not always entirely correct and not to use it as a source, but it also shows students that not everything you find on the internet is true and that you should always use multiple sources to give your work more credibility.

-The standard is:

6-8.CT. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making —By the end of grade 8 each student will:

The benchmark is:

6-8.CT.2. Evaluate available digital resources and select the most appropriate application to accomplish a specific task (e, g., word processor, table, outline, spreadsheet, presentation program)

Then in the classroom you might:

Have students use PowerPoint, or some other presentation program, to teach other students about a specific topic. For example, if you were teaching a unit on Ancient India one group of students could present information on the geography of India. They could create a PowerPoint with photographs displaying the mountains, rivers, etc. Another could present information on the religion of India. And so on.

-The standard is:

6-8.DC. Digital Citizenship—By the end of grade 8 each student will:

The benchmark is:

6-8.DC.1. Provide accurate citations when referencing information sources

Then in the classroom you might:

Go over as a class the various methods of citing references, APA, MLA, Chicago style, etc. Then have students write a paper on a specific topic and require students to use multiple sources one being a book and another an on-line source. Or students could create a PowerPoint and cite their sources on the last page.

-The standard is:

6-8.TC. Technology Operations and Concepts—By the end of grade 8 each student will:

The benchmark is:

6-8.TC.1. Identify file formats for a variety of applications (e.g., doc, xls, pdf, txt, jpg, mp3)

Then in the classroom you might:

Download an mp3, open a word document, save a picture from on-line, etc. Show the students the various media and see first if they notice the difference and then explain if they don’t.

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION

I agree with the majority of what the articles and videos from week one have stated. Technology in the classroom is important. It should not be limited to a computer class or a business tech class, like it was during the days I attended high school. In every discipline there are ways in which technology can be used to reinforce, compliment, and even teach the material. The quote from the Technology in Education gloster poster says it perfectly, 

"Teaching in the 21st Century requires all educators to be comfortable in discovering the use of on-line tools and options for learning, creating and presenting information and knowledge."

Twenty-first Century educators need, not only to know of the various technological tools, but also to be comfortable with them. If educators don’t know how to use these tools properly, it is not possible to train others to use them. Also, as the quote indicates, educators need to be able to use these tools to learn, create, and present information and knowledge. Educators need not only to use on-line tools for these uses, but also teach students to use these on-line tools themselves. 

However, while there are many benefits to using technology in the classroom, there are disadvantages as well. I will start with ones that are personal to me. I love reading. I love going to the library, getting a book, and having an actual book in my hands to read. However, with Kindles, Nooks, Ipads, Sony Readers, etc. becoming more popular, books will be something of the past. I find this incredibly sad. Also, if every paper is written on a computer, how will students improve their handwriting skills? I am currently doing my teacher assisting in a middle school classroom and I notice that my students' handwriting needs improvement. Some people might say that there is no need for students' to have the ability to write legibly if they are doing all there work on the computer, but what if you are just writing a small note to yourself, addressing an envelope, writing a thank-you note, or taking notes. Isn't it important that students at least have the ability to write legibly, even if a computer isn't present? Another disadvantage of using technology is that students do not take their spelling as seriously. Why learn to spell if spell check will do everything for you? I will be honest; this is something that I have a problem with. I am a terrible speller, and I rely on spell check completely. This is a problem for a couple reasons. One reason is, what if spell check isn't available? Another is that spell check doesn't catch everything. Students have to know what they're spelling in order to use it. 

Disadvantages of technology in the classroom as discussed in the articles are that it is costly and it can be difficult to get teachers on board. The article Shaping Tech for the Classroom by Marc Prensky says,

“The missing technological element is true one-to-one computing, in which each student has a device he or she can work on, keep, customize, and take home. For true technological advance to occur, the computers must be personal to each learner. When used properly and well for education, these computers become extensions of the students' personal self and brain. They must have each student's stuff and each student's style all over them (in case you haven't noticed, kids love to customize and make technology personal), and that is something sharing just doesn't allow. Any ratio that involves sharing computers -- even two kids to a computer -- will delay the technology revolution from happening. (Go to Project Inkwell's Web site for more information about one-to-one computing.)

Many groups are working on solutions to the one-to-one problem, and this approach is being implemented in several places, including Maine; Vail, Arizona; Florida's Broward County Schools; and the Lemon Grove School District, in Lemon Grove, California. Those who cite cost as a barrier to implementing one-to-one computing should know that the prices of these devices, as with all technology, are falling dramatically. Although the expense is often estimated at $500 to $1,000 per unit, this year, according to longtime computer visionary Nicholas Negroponte, we will see a basic laptop computer for roughly $100.”

Even if laptop computers become available for $100, it is still expensive to purchase one for each student. I went to a small school. There were about 115 graduates in my class. Lets say that number stays the same each year. That’s $11,500 per year. Not to mention that number doesn’t include students who have dropped out or maintenance. Also, this is for a small school, and the number of students would not be the same each year. It is quite possible that, that number would increase. 

Also, getting teachers to cooperate is a real problem. Some are just stubborn and do not want to change how they do things. Others are scared or nervous to try something new, maybe because they themselves do not know how to use the technology.