Thing #7b

In my Google Reader I found an article about Should Schools Require Students to Purchase Specific Technology? This article was about how there is a lot of technology, hardware, and software for educators and students to use in school, but some schools are trying to push certain brands of technology tools onto students. Whether it be ipod touches, iphones, or laptops, many students can use other tools of technology to do the same kinds of programs. It stated that it shouldn't matter what brand the technology is, but what the operating sytem can do. People should be able to use whatever they feel comfortable with using. Some schools were requiring students to use ipod touches and iphones for their studies and projects when many smart phones can do basically the same thing. A study was done about the different types of educational applications available on the iphone had some type of counterpart on many other different systems. Why spend money when you don't really have to?

Thing 7a

I read a story from my google reader titled To Shred, or Not To Shred. It was about how schools use a lot of paper during the school year, even though it is usually recycled, it is still a waste. It also is discerning because the amount of time and effort the students put into all of the work is lost because it is tossed later on in the year. The article discussed creating blogs for classroom use instead of using so much paper. It is a way to get student work published without wasting so much paper and time and effort is valued. The blogs also create a way to get feedback and interaction among others not just teachers. The blogs can also stay as long as needed. They do not have to be erased or deleted after the school year. They can stay to continue getting feedback. I really never thought about this topic, but it is so true. This type of student work is definitely what I see in our future. This blog was a very interesting read for me.