If there were any lingering doubts that the Information Age is upon us, a quick look through the pages of this Technology Issue will crunch them into silicon dust. While no one can deny the utility of the good old No. 2 pencil (after all, what else would kids use to fill in their computer-scored test sheets?), there’s also no getting around the fact that teachers are doing more and more of their work with computers.
So we’ve dived right into the high-tech world with you. Our three features this month—“The Blogvangelist,” “A Lesson Earned,” and “Kindergarten 2.0”—profile, respectively, a high school educator-turned-tech consultant, a former English teacher selling lesson plans online, and MIT’s famed Media Lab.
In our Research package (page 43), we report on a computer program that helps teachers in Philadelphia pinpoint weaknesses in individual students. And in our Best Practices section (page 44), elementary, middle, and high school teacher-leaders share their most effective high-tech pedagogical techniques.
Our Web site has online features also related to technology, including results of recent reader polls: www.teachermagazine .org/poll_all_results.html. (Want to guess how much educators think the Internet has affected their teaching?)
On a personnel note, this second issue of Teacher Magazine’s new publishing year also marks an important last: After almost seven years as executive editor, this is the final edition Rich Shea will oversee. He’ll remain a vital part of the magazine in his new role as editor-at-large, but he’ll be focusing more of his time on reporting and on expanding Teacher’s online presence.
As I transition from my current job into the executive editor’s spot starting next issue, I’m looking forward to making Teacher Magazine your best source of useful, inspiring, and incisive information for and about teacher-leaders.
—Scott J. Cech, Managing Editor
