Show me the classroom

 The Texas Education Association  wrote a long range plan for technology in the classrooms for the 80th Texas legislation session.  In this plan they came up with short and long term goals for students as well as teachers.  The TEA suggested all classrooms in Texas should be 21st century classrooms and one of the requirements of a 21st century classroom is they should be "flexible, collaborative, and interactive."  In order to achieve these 21st century classrooms teachers should either learn techniques while still in college or through "professional learning" programs while on the job.  The TEA polled students and asked them "what does a 21st century classroom like?" and they responded by saying that an ideal classroom should have a digital camera, smartboard, scanner, and DVD or CD burners.  They did not ask teachers their idea of what should be included in a 21st century classroom just what technology did they have access to and how did they implement technology in the classroom.  

As a current teacher in the 21st century I would like a concrete example of what exactly a 21st century classroom should have in the way of technology.  In my school, only a handful of teachers might have a digital camera, scanner, or DVD burner.  The majority of these teachers purchased these technologies out of their own funds.  I do not have the finances to buy technologies for my classroom and neither do other teachers.  Also, how can we truly have a "flexible, collaborative, and interactive" and technology rich learning environment when each student does not have access to technology.  Should we do away with the computer behind the teacher desk and let the students have full access to the class computer?  If the TEA and TX state legislator truly want 21st century classrooms then they need to come up with specific ideas and technology for each classroom.  

Academic software

The role of academic software in the classroom could be considered a crucial component of the classroom in the 21st century.  In order to "hook" students and make them feel like what they are learning in their studies is relevant and necessary then technology has to be integrated into each lesson.  

One technology that allows teachers and students alike to implement academic software in the classroom is desktop publishing software.  The use of desktop publishing software is numerous and varied.  Some of the activities that can be done on desktop publishing according to "Teaching and Learning with Technology" are customized student worksheets and transparencies, posters, newsletters, certificates, flash cards, cards and letters, room banners, and yearbooks.  

In my opinion, one of the best uses of desktop publishing software would be the ability to create class websites.