In one room that I teach I have a desktop and an LCD. Not even a printer. It is very difficult to be a Web 2.0 class when there are not computers for students. It is hard to be a Web 1.0 when I just have the one computer. There is no Smartboard, no clickers, or nor other interactive technologies. I’m the only interactive technology. The Tech Director had to modify settings to allow me to use programs like YouTube. There are two log-ins. Sometimes technology is almost too difficult to use.
Yes, I do use technology in class but it takes effort to figure out how to do it interactively. Students answer questions in turn instead of individually answering questions like they would do if they had their own computers. Students cannot move at their own pace, they move in -lock step. Students cannot take online quizzes to measure their progress.
Let’s get rid of digital divide! Let’s harness the power for learning that technology brings to the classroom.
Education with Technology Harry G. Tuttle 
Yes and no. I have yet to see a compelling case of teaching for people who need instructor lead education… the use of technology is mainly interactive, as were books. If the teacher has more options to make the content compelling… that is good… but if the content is still not compelling to students even with all the options… that is bad.
Taran,
Compelling content is a wonderful idea but I do not see it in most schools. I see state assessment driven content which is focused on the test, not in-depth learning. Would you share some examples of your compelling content?
Harry
Harry,
I’m a graduate student at MIT. Issues of access and equity are near and dear to my heart, especially when is comes to educational technology. It was one of the major reasons my friends and I created Poll Everywhere, which is a tool to give clicker functionality to K-12 classrooms for free. Students vote using text messages on their mobile phone. As a former high school teacher, I’m well aware of the problems with cell phones in schools, but many progressive educators are embracing it.
Please let us know what you think of it!