Chapter 2: Essential Condition: Access to Hardware, Software, and Other Resources for Sustainable Integration

The text talks about finding funding for computers, hardware, software, and maintenance. Schools have quite a few requirements that they have to do when they purchase computers. They have to have some sort of security to protect the computers from hackers and from people breaking into the school and stealing them. Schools also have to purchase software and hardware that is going to benefit the students and the teachers curriculum. But when purchasing the software and hardware the school has to keep updating the technology along with the computers. Keeping the computers updated is important, uses a lot of money and takes time to update all the computers that the schools have. At Eastwood we had computers in the library and in some of the classrooms. The computers had rules and restrictions on what we could look at. This did cause some problems when we used the computers. At times some of the websites that the teachers wanted us to look at or use the computer blocked us from using it. So the teacher had to either find another website or go to the company that put up the restriction so that they could remove the block for that certain website. The software and hardware did get old and was not always updated quickly along with the computers becoming very slow. The problems that I mentioned above becomes very difficult for the students, teachers and the school to take care of. With some schools they cannot fix these problems so the students have to use old computers or not have any computers at all. Becoming a teacher and going to a school with no resources with computers or technology can be very difficult and frustrating. But there can be other ways to get the students to a computer or some sort of technology such as going to a library that has computers or find a way to get computers to the students. Finding ways to use technology can be easy or difficult along with maintaining the technology for the schools.

Chapter 1: Emerging Technology Trends for Education

• wireless connectivity
• merging of technologies
• developments in portable devices
• availability of high-speed communications
• visual immersion systems
• intelligent applications

I believe that some if not most of the above technology trends are being used in schools. At Penta they had wireless connectivity such as mobile labs. In English our teacher brought down the cart full of new computers so that we could write papers. The reason that Penta had mobile labs is because they do not have a computer lab that the students could go to.  Although Penta had mobile labs my home school did not have any mobile labs. We had a library and some computers in the classroom where we could go to use the computers. I think that it is great that schools can have mobile labs so every kid could have a computer to use. I also think that more schools need help with resources to get some kind of technology in their schools. The book also talked about merging of technologies with phones and digital cameras, text messages, and Internet. In an elementary school I would not use this type of device to get a hold of the students or anything like that. I would use it in high school or colleges when class or school gets canceled. Then with availability of high-speed communications is a way that people can have Internet connection at home and at school. You can use this with homework, online activities and communications between the teacher and parents. Finally with visual immersion systems and intelligent applications I do see how these could be used in the classroom but it will be in the future when we hear more about those two trends. Overall every trend that was discussed in the text is currently being used but it is up to the school, school resources and teachers to implement in the classroom.