9 Rules for Good Technology

I loved the paper by Stephen Downes, 9 Rules for Good Technology. He starts by saying that technology employed in the classroom must be "widespread and easy to use. A learning simulation, a conferencing tool, a student record keeper - these tools ought all to be as easy to use as a television, a telephone and a notebook". Basically, we need technology, just not stupid technology! We need technology that does not distract from teaching and learning.

His 9 rules are as follows:

1. Good technology is always available.
2. Good technology is always available.
3. Good technology is always connected.
4. Good technology is standardized.
5. Good technology is simple.
6. Good technology doesn't require parts.
7. Good technology is personalized.
8. Good technology is modular.
9. Good technology does what you want it to do.

I love this because I am enjoying all the different technologies that we are learning about but they do seem daunting to implement. When you think about the average classroom, it is a nightmare to think about wheeling in the one overhead that everyone shares, the millions of wires to connect, the dinosaur computers, systems failing and everything else that can go wrong. But what Mr. Downes proposes is "technology which works mostly by itself, which does not require a Master's degree to operate, and which does not distract from teaching and learning". This is our goal.