Kudos to Diane Curtis for her recent article, "A 'Fantastic Super' Use of Technology: Closing the Digital Divide"! http://www.edutopia.org/fantastic-super-use-technology
Indeed everyday is Technology day as Curtis rightly points out in her article describing life at Mary Scroggs Elementary School.
What a model of success when students are given computer ID numbers on the first day of class just like getting assigned textbooks and other necessary tools. This is truly the sign of a shifting paradigm. What a great idea for two simple reasons: 1. The students learn the skills at a very early age, kindergarten! and 2. It really makes the student feel that computer activity is a normal component of the learning experience, not some kind of reward or exotic skill that gets honed elsewhere.
True, BellSouth does not give out 'full computers', just appliance-type computers that can go to some pre-set websites, but this is more than adequate for these starting learners to get connected by email, classroom newsletters, and other means.
Why does this model succeed? One answer is the feedback system, as Curtis points out. This is to say that students really appreciate immediate peer or teacher-provided commentary. This allows adaption and reflection while the activity is still fresh in young minds.
What benefit is the most immediately sensed? "The Web summary of the day's events in Eveleigh's class also promotes parental involvement, which in turn has been shown to lead to improved student achievement." (Curtis) Really the most conspicuous benefit is the gratitude of parents who not only feel it is highly convenient to them, but also that they are more involved in day-to-day educational experiences of their children's assignments, creations, and progress.
I would ask two question: How can that model be juiced up at the seconday education level so that teens can take it where educators and adminstrators might not envision?
Curtis, Diane. "A "Fantastic Super" Use of Technology: Closing the Digital Divide." Edutopia Sept. 20075 Web.18 May 2009.
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