Who Benefits from technology in the classroom?

The article from the LA Times Who really benefits from putting high-tech gadgets in classrooms? echoed most of my concerns about technology companies capitalizing on education.

Technology in the classroom comes with a hefty price tag, and although there are ways around the expense of technology in the classroom, it seems that the most affluent schools integrate technology the fastest and the most. For example students who attend a school located in an upscale neighborhood will often have access to more technology than student across town whose school is located next to a trailer park. Many times the PTA in the affluent school will purchase the technology that teachers want and need, while the PTA in the low income school simply does not have the means and or resources to do so. 

I think technology is an important tool that can enhance learning and student engagement it really is all about the teaching. Yes students can learn with out technology in the classroom, but when technology is added to the mix it heightens the students educational experience. It is not meant to be about the technology it is supposed to be about the teaching. Technology is meant to enrich the teaching. For example looking at The International Society for Technology in Education's National Education Technology Standards for students you would hope most of the standards addressed are things that educators are hitting on in their classroom anyway. Creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. These are all things teachers should do on a regular basis, but when you do these through technology it deepens the learning experience. Now that I've exhausted my idea of it's about the teaching not only technology let me move to my next soap box....Apple. 

Let me start by saying that I am a fan of Apple. I own many Apple products including the Apple TV (which is a money making machine btw) Apple like most technology companies are a business. What is big idea behind businesses? To make money and Apple has done that. They made you want something you don't need. It's brilliant. I can survive without my iPhone and iPad but Apple has made me believe that I can't. Further more they have me and many others convinced the iPad is revolutionary to education. It has the capability to enhance many educational situations and deepen understanding but I feel that it is lacking in one major area that is vital to many web educational sites. THEY DON'T RUN FLASH!!! Ugh I know it's not going to change and it frustrates me to no end. There are so many awesome web based activities that would be great for a teacher to use in the classroom with a set of iPads accept it wont work because the website you love like glogster runs on flash so it won't work with your handy dandy iPad.  So what do you do, you have to find an app that will do the job but the one that you want will cost you. I want to mention that great apps like iMovie is $9.99 so are all of the productivity apps. I realize that Apple is a business and they have to make money but when does it stop? I'm disgusted that they want 30% of any book that sells through the app store made by the new iBooks. 

It makes me sad to think that technology may be the thing that widens the educational gap further between the "haves" and the "have nots."