Webquests and Surface computing

The video on surface computing was amazing. The surface computing allows users to organize and resize photos or videos. The multitouch allows users to manipulate more than one thing at a time. Surface computing also allows a person to put a camera on the computer screen, manipulate it on the screen and transfer it to another item such as a phone wirelessly. The surface computer is about $5,000-$6,000 and will be used mainly in hotels and casinos initially. This technology is mind boogling!!
I could see using this in the classroom to allow myself or students to manipulate pictures or videos for reports or presentations. It would make putting visuals together much easier and faster. It would be fun to use this to display pictures of activities the class has done such as field trips or a powerpoint at the end of the year. Surface computing would allow students to manipulate maps or graphs to the size they want or the content they want to focus on. The wireless sharing would allow students to share information and collaborate more easily. Using this technology in the class would prepare students for not only jobs but life in the future.
The past few weeks our class has been learning about webquests. A webquest is a cite which allows you to explore a subject. It is like a map that allows you to explore a subject within parameters. Webquests can include information, pictures, videos, and assignments.
I think webquests are really cool because they teach students to navigate on the computer without being overwhelmed by simply surfing the web. They are also protected from unwanted information. I think this is important. Once when my son was in second grade he was doing a report on an author when a stripper came up. And this was a school computer! A webquest enables students to learn what they need to learn through exploration.
Webquests are a good way for students to learn computer skills. The best way to learn is by trying. You learn which buttons to push to get where you need to go. Students can help each other to navigate the computer.
I would love to use webquest in the classroom. The beauty of webquests is you could create it once and use it again and again. You could simply update the information if necessary. Upper grade students could even create a webquest themselves! I would use a webquest for history, to explore different books they might want to read, to learn about art history and famous artists, and even to see science experiments and make their own scientific conclusions. There are a myriad of ways webquests may be used! Also, I could use webquests created by others. A group of teachers could each create a webquest and share them. I think students would enjoy webquests because they include interesting things such as videos and pictures which make information come to life.