Classroom Connections: The Role of Technology in Schools

I have class tonight and so won’t be able to post very much until tomorrow night, but I did want to throw two related thoughts at you guys and hopefully generate some discussion.

First, I learned that my old high school is getting ready to implement “Smart Board” technologies in some of its classrooms.  Smart Boards combine a whiteboard, a computer, a projector, and some sort of touch/motion sensor to know when your hand or marker makes contact with its surface.  The result:

The Smart Boards also allow you to save notes taken on the whiteboard.

Second, Ars Technica has a write-up on Abilene Christian University’s plan to give out iPhones to incoming freshmen this fall, ostensibly for academic use.  Some say it’s a gimmick, others see great potential.

With those two blurbs in mind, what do you think of technology in the classroom?  We’ve recently discussed blogging as a learning method.  Where do you draw the line between a cool gadget and a real tool for teaching and enrichment?  Could this money be better spent in other ways?  Speak your mind in the comments!

P.S. — Bonus points to whoever can figure out where that guy is browsing in Google Earth.  I don’t have the answer… but if you recognize the buildings on the board then speak up because I, for one, am curious!