In reading the article, "The Wired Classroom" by Jamie Mackenzie, I can summarize that a technology-infused classroom is more than just a line of computers bordering a wall. It is where :
"students make meaning and develop insight while the teacher shows them how to navigate and reason through the labyrinth of new sources.
Student questions and questioning become a major focus of classroom activity as teachers demonstrate and then require effective searching, prospecting, gathering and interpretation techniques while students use the tools and information to explore solutions to contemporary issues.
To bring a wired classroom to life, we must equip all students with the technology of questioning"
With this in mind, and pertaining to my own classroom of 8-9 year olds who know all about games they can access on the net, but really not how to use it to research a question, I know I have a lot of work to do.
I am going to make our day to the lab meaningful and purposeful, and aligned to my state's standards, which I actually found out the other day will soon change to "Common Standards", but nonetheless, the visits will have an objective and my students will be required to use a higher level of thinking than just simply accessing a mindless game. They can do that at home. After all, I can't follow them :-)
