absorb activity

As I learn more and more about teaching and learning with technology it has occurred to me that some learners may not know what they know in regard to the technology available to enhance their learning.  Technology is changing quickly and becoming more affordable and available.  In order to incorporate technology into teaching, it is important to have a starting point.  The starting point is going to be different with each group of learners.  A student technology survey can be useful to determine a starting point. A survey will help gather information about what hardware and software the learners are accustom to using, how often it is used, where it is used and what their personal opinion is about technology and the Internet.  The survey should be mandatory and completed partially at home and during class time.  The survey can be used as an indirect instructional tool, to help students understand what types of technology is available at home, at school and within the community.  The survey is also a way to get to know the learners. It offers a hide and seek type of guided tour where learners discover the types of technology available.  Once the survey is complete, the results can be tallied by the learners and used to create a classroom technology plan.