ClassZone: The Language of Literature

Technology in the Classroom

Title: Can Computers Change the System?

Author: Ronald Thorpe

Source: Education Week on the Web, October 20, 1999

According to the author, the real system of schools does not exist in the federal, state, or local governments but in the classroom itself, "at the intersection of teacher and student." Understanding this idea of the system is the first step in figuring out how technology can create systemic change. Simply adding computers to classrooms cannot create real change. Instead, teachers must be actively engaged in using computers in order for this technology to become part of daily teaching and learning. The author uses the Rhode Island Teachers and Technology Initiative, which provided laptop computers and computer training to 25 percent of Rhode Island teachers, as a model of how empowering teachers with technology creates systemic change.

Title: Tech Talk

Author: Andrew Trotter

Source: Teacher Magazine, January 2000

The author reports on the current use of small but powerful computers, such as the Palm III, in educational settings. Teachers at a school district in Massachusetts experimented with handheld computers for several years and praised their portability, which allowed students to take them outside and use them to collect data. Affordability is also noted as a benefit. The author acknowledges that while programmers have been focusing on creating programs for the business and hobby markets, the possibilities for educational use are promising.

Title: The Information Superhighway: How Much Fun Is It?

Author: Bonita L. Wilcox

Contributing Reviewers: Stefan Bauschard, John Osterhus

Source: The Reading Teacher, May 1998

The author of this article is skeptical about the benefits of using technology in the classroom but admits that knowing about technology is better than not knowing. She also believes that most teachers "learn about technology through books" and that finding the right book can be difficult. To this end, she recommends four selections geared toward helping teachers use technology. The selections provide for different levels of comfort and experience with technology. Brief reviews describe how the books can meet teachers' specific needs.