Readings

Healy, "Failure to Connect"

Guernsey, "PowerPoint invades the classroom"

Questions

1. Healy's Chapter is full of anecdotes (stories) about how educators and parents all over are currently using computers to support students' learning. (For the most part, the ideas are ones that Healy approves of.) Choose any two anecdotes that describe uses of technology you could imagine trying with students of your own someday. Then, for each idea:

• Summarize the idea in a few sentences. Include a reference to the page where Healy discusses it.
• Explain (in a few sentences) what you would find appealing about the idea as a teacher.
• Explain a general principle of teaching with technology that your chosen anecdote illustrates.
• Pose at least three questions that you would want to ask the teacher (or parent) who came up with the idea, before you attempted it yourself. (Assume that you already have all the necessary resources and know how the technology involved works. Focus on what you think you would need to understand to carry out the lesson, project, or unit successfully.)

2. Consider Guernsey's stories about the use of PowerPoint in schools. She clearly has a firm view on this, but is not very explicit about it.

• Explain what it is about PowerPoint and the way it is sometimes used that might narrow kids' thinking or limit their imagination. Use examples from Guernsey and/or your own experiences.
• Based on the article, state at least three guidelines that a teacher could follow while using PowerPoint, to avoid the pitfalls Guernsey describes.