I thought the software Squeak described in Hug and Reese's article How Technology Integration in Math and Science Teaching Can Occur: The role of the maverick teacher was really cool. I think this is the sort of technology experience that can be very meaningful for students. First of all working with Squeak would not be the sort of drill or rote learning experience that is not a meaningful use of technology. Squeak would encourage students to be creative with computers. Students would be motivated to learn programming in order to design these cool applications. I took a computer science class in high school, and we learned some of the basics of computer programming. Compared to what is available now, what I learned is archaic. I remember thinking that programming was boring, and I never took another computer science class. I envision a school using Squeak in every grade. Students would learn to use the program in kindergarten and the build on that knowledge in subsequent years to do more complicated programming. I think there would be many real world applications to using Squeak and understanding the process of computer programming. Students who understand computer programming would become valuable employees as computers are so vital to any career.
I think the discussion about "maverick" teachers was interesting. One thing the article did not point out is that Ms. Hogan was not a teacher I would have expected to be an early adopter of technology in the classroom. Ms. Hogan was older and did not have an undergraduate degree in math or science. When I imagine an early adopter of technology I picture someone who is in their twenties or thirties who does have a STEM background. I think Ms. Hogan did have the luxury to exploring Squeak with her students because the work she did with the students was extracurricular. She did not have to worry about content standards or standardized exams. I think Ms. Hogan's fearlessness in tackling a new technology was inspiring. I hope that twenty years into teaching I will be the same.
Suzanne Alejandre's article The reality of using technology in the classroom looks like a good resource to refer back to when I am teaching. Even though the specific software and websites are for math, Alejandre's strategies for different classroom set-ups look like they would work. I am guessing that these are all the excuses she has heard from teachers as to why they cannot use technology in the classroom. It seems like she has thought of every scenario.
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