5+Tech+Trends+for+2010


 * 5 Tech Trends for 2010 **

I subscribe to an ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development--I wonder why it's the **former** name...maybe it's the **formal** name??), which sends me all kinds of articles on trends, what's workin', and what ain't workin' in schools.

Recently, I received an article about 5 tech trends for 2010 in K-12 schools. I'd like to share it with you. I know you are all busy, so I'm giving the information to you in three different ways:  Whatever works for you. Talk about differentiation!
 * the actual link to the article
 * a Word document of the article
 * a digest of the information which I have prepared

Here's the link: http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/12/10/5-k12-technology-trends-for-2010.aspx

Here's the Word document:

Here's the digest:

1**. eBooks Will Continue to Proliferate**--Traditional textbooks won't disappear altogether any time soon BUT they may be replaced gradually by e-reading devices. Think Amazon's Kindle, Sony's gadget, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and Plastic Logic's tablet.

2. **Netbook Functionality Will Grow**--Netbooks have become inexpensive facilitators of the growth of one-to-one computing. They are expected to become more popular in the next decade. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm waiting for Apple to come out with a rival to the Windows-based netbooks that have already penetrated the market. Mac Netbook Tablet, anyone?

3. **More Teachers Will Use Interactive Whiteboards**--Interactive whiteboards have been in existence for more than 10 years, but became popular in education just recently. The buzzword/term that is associated with interactive whiteboards is "engaged learning" as the devices are marketed as catalysts for getting students out of their seats and moving while learning. Several companies sell these devices: 
 * SMART
 * Promethean
 * Numonics
 * Mimio (a subsidiary of Rubbermaid): Mimio actually isn't an interactive whiteboard. It's a device that works with your computer and LCD projector to make any flat surface interactive.

4. **Personal Devices Will Infiltrate the Classroom**--Personal devices are no longer just "teen things." It's become more socially acceptable for children 7 or 8 years old to have personal devices such as cell phones and iPods. The next step is to turn what might be considered classroom distractions into classroom tools.

5. **Technology Will Enable Tailored Curricula**--Educators and administrators have a tech-based way to assess, record, and track individual student performance in the classroom. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that this technology does not exist as yet, BUT some private equity funds have their fingers in the pie. If there's a demand, they'll be happy to find a way to meet it, that's for sure.