Yellow Group

When asked to create a list of technologies that would be incorporated into classroom use, I'm not surprised that everyday technologies like Facebook, blogs, Twitter, video games, and You Tube do not come to mind immediately.  While some of these technologies may be useful for instruction, I think that there are many reasons why teachers should be careful to integrate them into the classroom for instructional purposes.  First, the "everyday technologies" of teachers, like Facebook and blogs, are also the "everyday technologies" of students, especially students at the secondary level.  Because many of these technologies include personal information about teachers' and students' private lives, not to mention their personal opinions about non-academic material, it is important to respect the privacy of and private spaces created by teachers and students alike outside of the classroom.  Second, "everyday technologies" are often harder to filter for content-appropriateness.  For example, because sites like blogs and You Tube are user-driven, students may stumble upon inappropriate videos or blogs.  In addition, students may use these technologies to search for non-academic materials which may create distractions in the learning environment.  Third, some parents may not feel comfortable with their children using open technologies like blogs or technologies that show personal information, like Facebook.

Those these concerns are all valid, "everyday technologies" could still be used effectively as a supplement to the classroom.  For example, teachers may have students swap AIM screen names and email addresses in order to find out about make-up assignments or to communicate outside of school for group projects.  Also, teachers might set up discussion boards for the class to access outside of school to study collaboratively before a major exam.  Though these technologies may not be entirely appropriate for whole-class, in-school use, they may facilitate learning outside of the classroom and foster a community of learning in a digital space.