Teaching in a classroom with a computer on every desk, is certainly a
challenge. The glowing monitor is like a warm fireplace on a Winters night.
The display beckons them to stare and soon they are ensnared in its magnetic
grip. If you have ever eaten at the local Applebeešs restaurant or Mamma
Ninnašs Pizza, with T.V. Screens positioned over the shoulder of the person
you are eating with, you find it very difficult to not look at the screen of
moving images, no matter how much you hate hockey.
My biggest problem is not web surfing but Instant Messaging. It is very
difficult to be standing in front of the class trying to give the best
lecture possible, when half of the students are busy typing away, chatting
with their friends. The most effective method I have for dealing with this
problem is to turn on Apple Remote Desktop and leave it on the projector
while I speak. It displays a list of all the computers in the room and what
application is currently active on each one. Students have a tendency to
leave a more appropriate application open on their computer rather than
Instant Messenger or a web browser.


Sven Anderson
Computer Art
Apple Distinguished Educator
State University of New York, College at Oneonta
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http://www.svenanderson.com
607-436-3174 Office
607-436-3482 Computer Art Lab
607-436-3717 Art Dept. Office
607-433-1266 Home


"Remember, there are 24 hours in the day, and then there is the night too!"