Chapter 1 - Evidence Based Posting #1

I am going to give my thoughts about chapter 1 from Teaching with the
Internet K-12: New Literacies for New Times. If this is not acceptable,
Craig, would you please let me know.

I read this chapter with a mixture of feelings and responses. While I
like the idea of students using the internet, I also found myself
reacting to a certain degree to the authors' enthusiasm. I've taught in
schools where teachers had computers in their classrooms. Usually, there
were one to four or maybe five computers. If they were lucky, two or
three computers worked. Fixing computers can take a fair amount of time -
even when the problem is simple to solve. I also know that a good number
of teachers feel intimidated to even try fixing a computer when it's not
working. From what I've seen, tech support in elementary schools tends to
be rather weak. Without it, all these ideas about teaching on the
computer aren't worth much. I felt disappointed to see the authors didn't
mention this issue -- at least not that I saw.

As I read this chapter, I found myself repeatedly asking a few questions:
How can I do something similar to the examples given in the book? Do I
want to do something similar? Is what is being done, best done on the
internet, or could it be done just as effectively or better without the
computer? Why am I even taking this class when I only have one working
computer in my classroom and that can only be used when logged on with my
password?

Several months ago, I decided that I would devote the money I normally
spend on my classroom on purchasing a few second hand computers for
student use. Unfortunately, I learned I wasn't allowed to do so. I had
previously been told there was no money for new computers and if there
was, they would be given to classrooms. So I stopped thinking about how I
might get computers in my classroom. Reading chapter 1, I thought maybe I
could get some computers that weren't online. I would have to install
whatever I wanted students to have access to use. If I got a few
computers, I might be able to connect them. This would allow students to
do some collaborative work on the computers. As much as I think
collaboration is generally done easier and with less effort in person,
collaborating on the computers would have some advantages. For one thing,
too many students at my school tend to say nasty things with the intention
of hurting one another. This sometimes results in physical fights. If
they could collaborate on the computer instead of in person, they'd be
less likely to make these provocative statements to each other. They'd
also get more practice with writing and they'd have more time to think of
how to respond to each other. That might make collaboration possible.
As Leu, Leu, and Coiro pointed out, using the technology is often
motivating for the students. Around here, that's worth a lot.

I'll keep learning and thinking about this.

Citation:
Leu, Donald J., Jr., Leu, Deborah Diadiun, Coiro, Julie. Teaching with
the Internet K-12: New Literacies for New Times, 4th Ed. 2004,
Christopher-Gordon Publishers, Inc., Norwood, Massachusetts, 1502
Providence Highway, Suite 12, Norwood, MA 02062 USA