In our class this week, we went to visit a third grade classroom at Edith Bowen. This classroom uses technology extensively. There are nearly enough computers for every student in the room and each student has their own Ipod. The teacher also uses an overhead projector to show lessons from the computer and to use learning websites like Celestia to teach the children. I got to visit with one of the students in the classroom and she told me about how she does her spelling and some of her math on the computer. She also showed me how she did this. The teacher informed us that the technology in his classroom came mostly from donations and grants, and the rest from the school. He actively pursues getting money for technology in his classroom as he feels it is of great benefit to the students.
I think that in order for me to have technology in my future classroom, I will have to purse the funding just as this teacher did. I do think that students respond well to the use of "gadgets" and that their interest does pick up when they are using technology, so it will be of great importance for me to find funding in order to have technology in my classroom.