Looking back; looking forward

I grew up in a small town with a small school which always seemed to lag behind on the technology curve when compared with my cousins schools in Calgary or friends schools other towns. I don't have a lot of exposure to the effective use of technology in classrooms other than simply using computers to do what could be easily done without them (i.e. word processing or research.) In this class I would really like to develop a virtual library of resources that are available to teachers and students. I know I won't be able to become an expert in most of the tools available out there but it would be good to know what is out there.

Throughout the MT program we have talked about inquiry in just about every lecture, seminar and assignment yet I still am a little confused as to how I might develop worthwhile inquiry projects in my classroom. I'm hoping to develop a sense of how this is done in the SIPS class.

Some things that interest me in technology:

• developing creativity in the sciences
• establishing collaborative links between students (both intra-school and inter-school)
• establishing collaborative links between teachers and with other professionals
• how it is students are able to pick up new technologies and master them
• where technology as a learning tool is headed
• how can I make use of cheap or costless technology
• e-textbooks: will they ever take place of the paper copies? what would a good e-text look like?

I'm quite looking forward to this class!

Chad