Vince,
Thanks for the link. There is a lot of food for thought here.
Since  returning to the classroom after a seven year hiatus to work in school IT, the thing that I notice most is how many people talk about all the multitasking kids do. There are a lot of claims that kids are learning in a new way and that it is a good thing. I question that assumption.
Since I teach mainly performing arts, it seems like I have to work with students more than ever before to develop their powers of concentration. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one talking to them about it. I am sure I am not but they often want to do more than one thing at a time. It is hard to be an effective performer if you try to do that.
On the plus side, technology revolutionized the teaching of musical composition for me. I do things that I wouldn't even have tried with middle school kids prior to the advent of notation and sequencing programs.
Dave

David Tisdell. Music Teacher
Browns River Middle School
20 River Road
Jericho, VT 05465
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>>> Vince Rossano <[log in to unmask]> 5/4/2007 8:51 AM >>>
In light of my role as resident contrarian on this list, I feel obliged to forward this link to an article in today's NYT:
 
"Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops"  
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/education/04laptop.html?ex=1178942400&amp;en=ca609616eec98859&amp;ei=5070&amp;emc=eta1 
 
 
Vincent Rossano
Information Technology Director
Montpelier Public Schools
Montpelier, VT 05602
 
(802) 225-8690