Dexter's E-Tips Continued - What's the "value added"?

In this chapter there was large focus on what technology should do for the teacher and student. On of the most important factors to me is the ability of the curriculum to accept technology. It should include alternatives and allow flexibility for the diversity of the students. The technology requirements that are being sanctioned by districts should be absorbed into the curriculum. The difficulty is figuring out how to still maintain the original goals before the technology piece was there. Often technology is a "side car" rather than a new mode of transportation. Those that have the ability to alter curriculum for their schools need to take this idea of integrating into consideration. If technology is going to become a stronger part of education it needs to be seen as less of a break from the norm, and more of a student's everyday life.

Another interesting point dealt with the difference in accessing learning and accessing information. I feel that many teachers are misled by technology in using it mostly for the latter. Information is now cheap and plentiful. Project that regurgitate information only help the students learn how to work the software, and even then that's not always the case. How can we use technology to promote thinking rather than gathering? A lot of what's out there is gathering in disguise.