Computers in the classrooms

I enjoyed the reading this week, mostly because it was almost just a list of the different concerns that are "out there" about using technology in our classrooms. No one is saying that technology does not have a place in the classroom, but it is very useful to note some of the things that we all need to consider, and maybe compensate for, as we make decisions about how to teach things.

I thought the suggestions at the end of the article were interesting. The first was what you usually think of: think before you act. Consider the ramifications before you fill a room with computers.

The second suggestion, however, to have a group of people somewhere who evaluate these things and let educators know . . . that is a really good idea!! And then I got thinking about my husband, who is a 4th grade teacher. Every summer he does contract work for UEN, and what he does is find websites to link to the core pages that UEN hosts. He checks the pages they already have listed to make sure they are related, checks links, and finds new pages that fit the topic. It's actually really cool, and I have found myself going to UEN to find educational web pages now that I know they have a good list. But I don't think many people know that this information is out there. It's not quite an independent group of people evaluating software, but it's close -- and it's right there on the web!!