I noticed last night at the opening reception in the Exhibit Hall a couple of trends in what is “for sale”.  Many companies are selling software that “protects” students and teachers from getting to the “bad” parts of the Internet.  Why is it that NO ONE in education can see that EDUCATING students on what is appropriate and not appropriate is a much better way to deal with this than overfiltering the rich content the Internet provides.  As I get ready to do my workshop this afternoon on Web 2.0 tools, I wonder how many teachers will fall in love with free tools that they (and consequently their students) will not be able to access at school or use for lessons. 

The other trend I observed was that everyone sells a test-preparation program “guaranteed” to work.  What does it mean if it works?  That the kids pass the test, but don’t have the skills that working in the 21st century will require?  Something to think about.  How can we use standards to help us integrate technology and engage students rather than use it for drill and practice for passing tests? Okay, I am stepping down off the NCLB/testing soapbox now.

Another trend I saw was mini-computers/word processors–AlphaSmarts have some real competition now and I can’t remember the names of the other products, but they are certainly on the exhibit floor.  Lots of devices with only a few functions so that they are easy for students (and teachers) to use in classrooms.  Durability has also improved a great deal in the last year.  I do wish that we were to the point of selling the OLPC laptops in the US, but hopefully, if the Birmingham City schools in Alabama get to use them, maybe I will have the opportunity to work with that platform with teachers and students in my region.

Finally, I am looking forward to meeting folks from around the country as we do concurrent sessions.  I know I will learn things and hope that I can make some valuable network connections, too.