Students 8 and younger have access to screens everywhere--on smartphones, tablets, handheld games, and laptops, to name just a few places. How do you know if students are using these tools effectively? Are the students participating in digital environments in ways that encourage critical thinking, active engagement, and contribution, or are they…

Given the power of instructional technology and the ubiquitous nature of technology in society and the workplace, what are the social implications associated with teachers' decisions to use, or not use, technology to enhance teaching and learning? Despite current U.S. educational goals and the documented effect of the achievement gap, little…

It is a fair assumption that most teachers in the United States have, by now, had some exposure to technology in the classroom. And most educators who have worked with technology in their schools will likely agree that simply having technology doesn't guarantee its effective use.

As the volume of L&L closes, I usually take some time to reflect on what we have done over the year as a magazine and what has happened in the field. We currently have infrastructure and technology for integrated systems that combine data, curriculum, resources, tools, assessments, delivery, and reporting, all at the fingertips of educators.…

Although current theory about the effective use of instructional technology argues for the distribution of small groups of computers in individual classrooms, computer labs still offer benefits. Discusses the drawbacks of the distributed model and describes Palmer Elementary School's (Missouri City, Texas) technology plan which incorporates both…

Searching the Web with Google to find information about technology and learning disabilities produces more than a thousand links. This creates a dilemma for educators who want to learn about current technology-based ideas for use with students with special needs. You may be a technology coordinator, staff developer, or administrator looking for…

Many principals want to provide effective professional development to assist teachers with technology integration, but they don't know where to begin. Sometimes teachers participate in professional development opportunities offered by local school districts, but these one-size-fits-all experiences seldom address teachers' specific needs or skill…

Excitement about handhelds must be tempered by an understanding of what is typically required when any new technology is introduced into classrooms. We know, for example, that to succeed, handheld initiatives will need clear educational objectives and a logical theory of action that guides implementation. We can anticipate that teachers will need…

Educational portals put together links to sites and resources educators would be interested in viewing. They eliminate the hours of searching that might be invested if typical search engines were used. Educational portals feature lessons, units, printable resources, creative ideas, and more. Many of these sites are free, while others are…

Are you irritated at the thoughtless technology-related interruptions in public places? Are you tired of having to "police" staff and/or students who use technology inappropriately? Are you concerned that schools ban certain forms of technology in schools only to see students using and misusing it after the last school bell rings? A growing…

Sixth grade language arts teacher Ms. Jones has just finished teaching a unit she's taught for the past 10 years. She uses the works of O. Henry to teach literary elements. Not much has changed about this unit over the years; the learning objectives and concepts covered have stayed the same. But something is different this year. Students are…

In several recent studies and surveys, both beginning and experienced teachers ranked access to a projector as one of the actions most likely to facilitate more effective use of technology in their classrooms. Advances in display technologies now make this increasingly feasible. For example, digital light processing (DLP) technology is one of…

In March 2000, Maine Governor Angus King surprised the rest of the United States when he announced that he wanted to provide every seventh grader in Maine with a portable wireless computing device. An unexpected state budget surplus had given him the opportunity to do something radical to improve education and the economy of Maine. King recognized…

The most important step in recruiting a school technology coordinator is the interview. Examines the candidate interview, concentrating on four areas: technical expertise, understanding technology use in instructional environments, professional development, and Internet knowledge and experience. Provides questions and discussions of possible…

The job of overseeing a school district's technology program has grown exponentially in recent years as computers, the Internet, and other technology applications have become essential to the daily operation of schools. What are the essential skills needed to oversee a school district's technology program? The Consortium for School Networking…