Technology Applications for the K-12 Classroom - Purpose

As public education struggles with finding ways to motivate students and enhance the learning that occurs in the K-12 classroom in the face of a funding crisis of monumental proportions, it has become increasingly more important for teachers, students, parents, and other stake-holders to embrace the role that technology will and should play in the education of our children.

Our students live in a world that allows an unprecedented level of connectivity...the advent of the iPhone, iPod, and other "smart" devices have allowed our students to view access to information, media, and social networking as a normal part of their everyday lives rather than an aberration or luxury of 21st century living.

As part of the ongoing "re-imagining" of public education, it would be wise for administrators and teachers to carefully consider the role of technology integration. How can we use existing technology more wisely? How can technology save time, money, effort? If our students are using applications such as Facebook, Wikis, and Twitter, shouldn't we? Within this blog, I intend to highlight possible applications for various technologies in the K-12 setting. I look forward to hearing about how other public educators are successfully integrating technology into their classrooms.