After meeting today with our Superintendent, Dr. Jim McCormick, concerning our desire to become a successful School of Technology, I came back to my room only to notice several interesting headlines, both on line and on paper. Someone (thank you!) had tucked today’s issue of The News and Observer into my mailbox earlier. The headline? “After landing PC maker Lenovo, N.C. chases more China deals“. And below the crease? “NCSU pulls plug on pay-per-lecture” The world is filled with new challenges and new decisions concerning technology use and understanding! So how do the kids feel about it? As I caught up on some of my favorite blogs, I read a recent post by David Warlick (2 cents worth) concerning a study addressing just that! We know what teachers desire (tools and support to integrate technology successfully!), we know what politicians want (test scores that prove technology works!), and we know what the corporate world wants (tech savvy employees who can make crucial, data-driven decisions quickly!). But what about the kids? What is their interest in technology? The crucial ingredient, find out here!

After reading many of the technology education blogs out there, the excitement is certainly swirling around schools moving into the new world of web 2.0. A world of blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other flat world collaborations! As a new school of technology, I know we will, at times, take baby steps to build up to this new world, but how exciting to think about what lies ahead for our teachers and students!

A commercial on TV recently put out by Dell has me thinking about the ways we can work together to help prepare our classrooms for the 21st century learners! As the computer moves down the assembly line, the customer’s voice is heard requesting various components or outcome desires. A voila! The computer is shipped just as it was ordered. Wouldn’t it be nice to send our CLASSROOMS down the assembly line to be outfitted with the tools we feel would best meet the learning needs of our students! It’s up to us!