When students have the technology and schools don't

allowing students to bring their own computing devices to class may be the inevitable solution for districts that are under ever-constricting budgets but want to preserve a technology-enhanced education. It’s not just student-owned laptops that schools are opening up to, but any web-enabled device, including PDAs, iPod Touches, and cell phones. Not too long ago this would have struck many educators as a deal with the devil, to invite such potential chaos into the classroom. But now it only seems sensible
via thejournal.com

I wonder how much this will grow, i.e., schools 'adopting' student-owned technologies for the classroom. Perhaps future studies and surveys about how much of a school's student population own certain tech will be used as support for cost-cutting measures, the removal of computer labs in favor of a requirement that students bring their own laptops, etc.

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There is always the problem not all families have the funds to take their own equiptment to school. Now Johnny and Jimmy do not have the same advantage....I hope this is somthing that can be overcome learning from our peers is a great learning tool. Another great learning here is actually sharing...whether we are 2 or 40 some people never get it...
— i
Pencils, notebooks, calculators, etc., my wife and I get a school supplies required list for the kids every year, longer than a grocery list. Technology in the classroom will be sure to come in the future. I believe we may see the introduction of a kindle like device to our classrooms first. Instead of students getting their books every year, they will be required to purchase a kindle and parents will get some form of discounted or group rate on the cost of purchasing the online versions of the kids books. For less tech savvy demographics, you will most likely see students purchasing their text books every year, much like we do in college. Netbooks will probably find a way into the classroom on a mass scale as well. It is very easy to see the day that I am saying to my kids running off to school, "Have a good day at school, don't forget your Kindle..."
— John Cochran
I think a big thing here is are the students responsible enough to be permitted to use these technologies in class. When used in the right way technology is a fantastic learning tool, but with that said if I was an educator I would be concerned with how much of a distraction these things would cause.
— Karl Benko
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