the third rail

It’s been a busy summer and I have had this post in mind for a while, just took a while to make the time for it. recently we went on a quick trip up to California’s Gold Coast to start our summer vacation. Great trip and if anybody travels with dogs I have some recommendations for places to stay.

Two interesting, related things happened on this trip and I have been thinking about them since.

1) This was our first longish driving trip with a smart phone (Google Android , not an iPhone but pretty sweet) Having a “3G network” allowed us to

-get directions almost immediately, from anywhere/to anywhere

-the phone knew where we were at all times

-guide us to local restaurants (think Yelp)

-look up information for side trips

2) We also brought my netbook. First time for that as well, I noticed we both expected

- wireless to be available in the hotel room

- it should be fast

- there shouldn’t be an extra charge

When we were in the room we wanted to check our email, twitter of course, and see what there was to do in the local area.

What’s my point? Well, since we are “digital immigrants”** and we have this technology available to us and have come to expect it in every area of our lives what do our students expect? How archaic is my classroom that doesn’t have laptops for them OR a wireless network? What about turn off you phone and keep it in your backpack?

**I really don’t love the digital immigrant thing, it is very jaded but seemed to work here.