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Regularly pushing myself to research new ways of incorporating technology that will be exciting and meaningful for my students is a MUST! This will provide new ways of learning, collaborating, and creating for all of us!

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Of course I'm not the one being interviewed, but I would like to give an example of what it can be like for a student when the teacher pushes technological boundaries and gives students the freedom to compose and create with it. I had the chance last semester to make my first multi-genre, multi-modal project, and it was so much fun! Up to this point in my studies, I had only written standard research papers. During this process of this project, I worked very hard and did a lot of research, and I loved being able to express my research and reflections in a variety of creative ways. Would I like my students to have the same meaningful research experience, made possible in part by technology? ABSOLUTELY

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We become the kind of learners that we would like our students to be. That means that as teachers, we are always on the hunt for something new and innovative and something that makes us energized to use!

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I want students to be able to EXPLORE MORE! with technology, and MAKE THINGS! with technology, and realize that their options for technological use are basically LIMITLESS!!!!

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I think it is great to incorporate technology so that students can receive differentiated instruction, learn how to conduct responsible Internet research, and become familiar with traditional tools (like word processors) that they will have to use for the rest of their academic career.

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I understand the protections and precautions schools have to make to ensure that kids are safe as they use technology at school; however, being able to use the computer to research in the classroom more would be an easy way for her teacher to incorporate the more frequent use of technology.

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I understand not wanting kids to be unnecessarily distracted, but it does seem like there would be more of an effort to let kids use and take advantage of the mini-computers in their pockets sometimes!

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between home and school technology use? Of course. Grace told me at home she has the freedom to choose her own website.

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Me: Grace, would you like to use technology at school more?
Grace: Yes.
Me: How would you like to use it?
Grace: I'd like the teacher to let us look up more websites.

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Me: Evie, can you have your phone with you at school?
Evie: Yeah, I'm allowed to keep my phone with me, as long as it's off and put away.

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is equipping Evie to know how to do research on the Internet and helps her learn how to use some of the different online tools at her disposal. This is definitely to Evie's advantage, but I think her teachers could creatively incorporate technology into the classroom on a more regular basis.

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Evie was most excited talking about the WebQuests they get to do in her science class. She enjoyed telling me that they receive questions from the teacher and then go to various teacher-approved websites to find their answers. According to Evie, one of the perks of technology is being able to know new things quickly! (I agree, and I'm sure most others do as well!) Her science class is also a Google classroom, and she said she has access to study notes and online flashcards through this.

Evie also currently has a typing class, which she didn't say much about, and a Technology class, in which she is writing a paper using Grammarly.  Evie mentioned that her teachers often give presentations using the Apple TVs in the classrooms and that last year in her Technology class she learned how to give slide presentations as well.

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seems very traditional, and honestly, a little boring. Grace does not get to use technology in exciting ways that challenge her and give her new experiences. While it's great that she can use programs for differentiated instruction, it does not seem like teachers are really providing her with hands-on and innovative technology experiences.

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Grace said she uses computers once or twice a week, usually in the Media Center to look up a book. She said she gets to use the computer in her classroom for research once or twice PER YEAR to complete a project. The main incorporation of technology in her class involves use of the programs Front Row Ed or Achieve 3000, where she and her classmates practice reading passages and answering questions. Her teacher also uses the Smart Board every day for their math lessons. Grace looks forward to occasionally turning in her accumulated "cougar cash" for computer time so she can play Cool Math. Another periodic treat is getting to log into Big Universe to download a book to read.

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--Grace, a 5th grader at a Wake Forest public school
--Evie, a 7th grader at a Wake Forest charter school