The few of you who are crazy enough to read this blog, know that I frequently bemoan the state of technology in this district.  I am EXCITED to tell you that I now have huge hopes.  We have a visionary superintendent who is helping us articulate our needs and put our ideas into practice.

The latest influx of technology is laptop carts.  They are working out beyond my best hopes.  I SO wish I had taken a picture of the library today.  We had 2 classes here at the same time.  One group was researching information for an anti-drug project in Health.  They were using the “traditional” library computer lab.  We also had a Global 9 class researching architecture.  They sat at tables, using the netbooks,  notes and other materials.

All of them were working as groups.

All of them were successful.

Which group was able to collaborate the most efficiently?

The netbook group working at tables of course.  Speculating on the reasons, I realized that sitting at tables with your group along  with your notes AND  netbooks facilitated 2 things:

• Students can network with information and other people on the internet
• Students can enjoy F2F interaction with each other as they search.

It’s the perfect set-up for teenagers.  Not to mention the perfect setting to develop workplace collaboration skills.

Yes – this could also happen in the classroom.  And sometimes the classroom is the best place for the netbooks.   But I think the library setting adds that “third space”*  element that facilitates learning.

Today validated our decision to schedule netbook use in the library whenever possible.

*”Third Space” – a term used in the concept of community building to refer to social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. (Wikipedia, 1-15-10)