Readers Survey 2008
- Readers' Survey 2008 Home
- Best Blog for Educators
- Best Educational Podcast
- Best Virtual Field Trip
- Best Site from Which You Can Download Free Lessons and Materials
- Best Site for Grant Information
- Best Technology Product for Less Than $100
- Best Technology Tool for Students
- Best Education Software
- Amount You Spend Out of Pocket Each Year on Classroom Supplies
- Best Way to Get What You Need for the Classroom
- Best Public Advocate or Role Model for Educators
- Best New Book About Education
- Top Concern of Parents
- Top Concern of Teachers
- What's Missing from Education Degree or Certification Programs
- Who, from the Past or Present, You'd Like to Teach Your Class for a Day
- Subject That Typically Isn't Taught in Schools That Should Be
- Best Way for Schools to Keep New Teachers from Burning Out
- Best Way to Find Inspiration
- Best Way to Create an Educational Community
This year's Readers' Survey was conducted at Edutopia.org March 26-April 30, 2008. Participants responded to questions in their own words, and their answers were tabulated to yield the top three to five vote getters in each category. The top responses for each question appear with voting buttons to encourage our visitors to participate further.
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Readers' Survey 2008: Best Technology Tool for Students
Credit: iStockphoto
The fact that about a third of respondents offered up "laptop" or "computer" as the best tool makes a lot of sense. A computer is, after all, the key device without which many ed-tech tools cease to function. Though one reader reminded us, "Technology works best when a variety of tools are integrated," the majority of single-item responses talked about student creativity and self-direction and Web 2.0.
What's best for students, readers said, is whatever helps them use their knowledge and create more of it. Today, that also means they should be able to learn anytime, anywhere.
In other words, it's not just a computer that students need, but as one respondent put it, "a very portable laptop." Another reader opted for a "PC with Internet access 24/7." And one respondent explained that useful technology is the kind that "enhances students' ability to acquire and demonstrate higher-order thinking skills." Several others offered the slightly more ironic suggestion that the best tool for students just might be "their brains."
What do you think? Weigh in on the results.
Best Tool for Students
Submitted by Renee Moore, Mississippi (not verified) on June 27, 2008 - 19:06.
The whiteboard may be the best technology tool for teachers, but for students, I'd vote for wireless handheld or laptop.
Best technology tool for students
Submitted by Trudy (not verified) on June 2, 2008 - 19:02.
Not even a second thought...the whiteboard wins, hands down. So much can be accomplished with this tool and I've only touched the tip of the iceberg. Incredible resource.
This was a hard choice
Submitted by Ann (not verified) on May 29, 2008 - 04:20.
This was a hard choice because they need all the tools. Depending on what they are doing determines which tool is most needed. My vote was for the interactive whiteboard since that is one I use a lot. My students are highly motivated and enjoy it. This year we got a document camera to use with it. What fun!
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