Dean Shareski posed a very valid question yesterday at his Ideas and Thoughts Blog regarding the use of the XO laptop and other emerging technologies in the classroom setting. Purely from a personal standpoint for my family, I don’t see myself purchasing one for my children. With computers/laptops to spare, one more tech item and I think my wife would just cringe. This being said without looking or interacting with one. But the question remains, as Dean has pointed out, where does this low-cost laptop fit in within a school’s usage?

Having just opened a brand new school, with well over $500,000 worth of technology throughout the campus, with all honesty, my students and teachers are not wanting for much. The one thing they are complaining about NOT having is an overhead projector (***CRINGE***). I took the liberty of talking the principal into order Avermedia’s Document Cameras for the classrooms. Not ideal, but remember my good friend Jen Wagner’s mantra, “Baby Steps”.

The underlying issue that remains, as Dean also points out, is “Lack of training, challenges around support.” Is this not the same argument against 1:1 computing initiatives? Teachers consistently point out that they have no guidance as to how to utilize a classroom full of computers for an entire period. As these machines age, what type of replacement plan is in place? What type of warranty is set up for when machines break down during the life of the computer? All valid questions. One term that I hear alot from people within the ed tech community is that we are in our own little ‘echo chamber’. I sometimes forget that I work with very much NEVER or newer adapters. Some do it willingly, some get it, some don’t.

So what’s the solution? Not withstanding teacher buy-in of integration concepts, but a total overhaul of what administration thinks education is all about. I’ve spoken ad nauseum of this, as I’m sure many others have. I think a focus needs to shift from not only concentrating on the teachers, but delving deeper into administration understanding what tools are out there, and their educational values. I’d like to see the days of hearing “there’s no time for that type of stuff in our classrooms” and “you should be concentrating on real reading and writing concepts and principles” behind us. Until this happens, we’re destined to be trudging through the mud that is 20th Century Education that we’re still mired in.

And by the way Dean…Love the animoto! The few students that I’ve used it with so far have been very excited about it’s ease of use. A very nice way to introduce storytelling.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages…

Tom.

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