Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students?

Chapter four talks all about the free this and free that and all this free information sharing websites and free lunch. Unfortunately, (this is greatly overlooked by the book) the actual computers needed to access this stuff are not free. They are just the opposite: expensive. So the whole notion of free digital educational resources for all is kind of bull*^$#. It should be more like free educational tools and sharing for everyone above the poverty line, or those lucky enough to not only be able to afford a computer, but can also afford the ridiculously expensive monthly charge. Can you even get Internet at home without cable anymore?
Granted, it's possible to find a source of free wireless at a library, but now we're talking the need of a laptop, which is all the more expensive than a desktop. What about public computers at the library? Sure, if you want to register, reserve a slot, and have limited time and access, then I guess it could be free, but it's still not equal, is it?
The best way to provide equal access would be to have enough computers in schools for every student. Having just a few computer labs and 60 laptops won't cut it because when the science teacher reserves them all for two days a week for the entire year, where is the access for the students wanting to use them to do research for a paper in English class?
The likelihood of schools purchasing the necessary computers needed for equal access is slim, especially considering many schools can't afford the most basic supplies like copier paper.
So while the tech geeks wiggle and giggle about all the wonderfully "free" resources the Internet provides, and how there is endless opportunities for everyone, they are really just talking about the people with newer computers and unlimited Internet access.
Bonk writes about the benefits of copying free software and says that, "Any user, regardless of social or economic background, gender, race, or educational level, can use that same piece of software...(p. 147)." It's clear that Bonk has found a map to the free computer tree, and perhaps later in the book, he'll tell educators, and everyone without a computer, where it is!

What can we gain through collaboration?

The greatest benefit of collaboration is the exchange of knowledge. People need to share their ideas just as much as people need to be exposed to new and different ideas. Putting two brains together is ultimately, mathematically anyway, greater than one. For example, a first-year teacher could be working in an integrated humanities class with a ten year veteran. Through collaboration, the first year teacher will gain many ideas and techniques regarding topics ranging from lessons and activities, to classroom management. Collaboration is the only way mankind has moved forward throughout history. Mankind's evolution into farmers and toolmakers, as well as the phenomenon of migration is ultimately the result of collaboration. The Pyramids in Egypt? The results of collaboration. The Renaissance? The results of collaboration. The Industrial Revolution? The results of collaboration. Do you really think we would have an international space-station without Russia?

Ed Tech Talk

I listened to Seedlings 2010-01-21 Strategies for Parent Teacher Conferences

First thing I noticed was how this show was a lot like Car Talk, where people call in with questions, except that the shows hosts are asking the questions, then listening to the callers talk. I found it interesting listening to all the teachers who called in with stories of their experiences. The reality of having to do parent teacher conferences is a bit nerve racking and I found the information and experience of the callers informative and helpful.
However, as I listened, I viewed the chat room and noticed that the majority of posts were trivial nonsense about "oohh, it's going to snow," and "Alice, I heard you got a lot of snow," and that there is "only rain in Phoenix."
There was text actually on topic as a scrolled further down, but it seemed mostly just chatter among friends. I didn't find the chat room aspect compelling, but I definitely think this website is an excellent compilation of resources for teachers to learn from one-another, to gather new ideas and to share what they know.

Essential Questions 1

Regardless of how I feel about technology presently, I do believe that integrating technology into the classroom is important. I think we should use tech in the classroom because it is what interests kids today. Their entire life is floating in a messy pool of technology, their fingers sore from tiny buttons, and their eyes blinded by the flash in a mirror of a self-shot facebook pic. Anything not dealing with computers and technology is boring to them. It would be interesting to assign a reading lesson to one class using a book, and the same lesson using an on-line type of resource and see what the completion ratio would be, as well as assessment scores...it could be interesting.
I think the purpose of integrating technology into the classroom is to prepare students for the future. We need to teach students things we don't yet know about to prepare them for jobs that don't yet exist.