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by Susan Brooks-Young
The book, **Teaching With the Tools Kids Really Use** by Susan Brooks-Young, is an excellent resource for teachers, administrators, and leaders to incorporate technology based tools and strategies into classroom instruction. The book includes basic information about different mobile technologies and Web 2.0 components, and strategies and suggestions for using these technology tools in the classroom. The book also explains digital citizenship and offers a decision-making model for technology leaders.

The book begins by addressing the importance of education stating, “Education may be the most successful institution to emerge from the Industrial Age.” (Brooks-Young 2010) The author continues by saying, “…nations have thrived because they identified and employed effective strategies for education the general population…” (Brooks-Young 2010) The author goes on to introduce the emergence of technology and mentions that “rapid advances in technology have changed the way services are provided…” (Brooks-Young 2010) We are then introduced to 21st-Centrury skills: “Twenty-first-century skills comprise both content knowledge and applied skills that today’s students need to master and thrive in a continually evolving workplace and society.” (Brooks-Young 2010) The author also offers strategies for implementing these skills.

Part one of Brooks-Young’s book deals with mobile technologies. The author tells us that, although some technologies may be too costly to provide “one-to-one computing” for students, there are many more cost effective options. (Brooks-Young 2010) Cell phones, MP3 players, and netbooks are introduced as wonderful, cost-effective tools that offer students a one-on-one technology experience. The author offers strategies for using these devices in everyday teaching and some discussion points for teachers to confer with their students. Part two of the book is entitled “Web 2.0 Tools.” The author defines this term, saying “the term Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of the World Wide Web, with…a move toward content that is dynamic and can be shared.” (Brooks-Young 2010) These Web 2.0 tools include writing tools, such as wikis, blogs, and web-based word processors, image creating tools that allow students to create digital photos and videos, educational games, virtual worlds, and social networks, such as Facebook, MySpace, and Friendster. These tools, which cost little or nothing, are described in the book as excellent sources for online classroom collaboration and interaction. Once again, the author provides strategies and suggestions for classroom use of each of these tools. She also gives points for classroom discussions.

The third and final part of Brooks-Young’s book “provide(s) strategies for making well-reasoned decisions about instructional use of mobile technologies and Web 2.0.” (2010) This part is divided into two chapters: the first, Digital Citizenship, deals with the correct ethical and legal uses of technology, and the second, Decision-Making and Implementation Model, acts as guide to execution of technology plans by districts, and offers a decision-making model for technology leaders. The chapter on digital citizenship offers students examples of how to use technology ethically and legally by providing tips such as: respecting themselves, respecting others, and their privacy, seeking approval for some of the content they make available online, being aware of internet archiving, being aware of cyber-bullying and it’s effect, and being aware of and valuing outside rules, laws, acceptable use policies, and cheating/plagiarism penalties. This chapter also provides important discussion points. The next chapter affords a six-step model to help leaders make decisions about technology use in their schools or districts. This model identifies the technology to be used a lays out groundwork and decisions to be made and by whom. It also provides an outline for action steps and evaluation.

In summary, Susan Brooks-Young’s book offers an excellent guide for educational technology leaders, teachers, and their students.

Brooks-Young, S. (2010). Teaching with the Tools Kids Really Use: Learning with Web and Mobile Technologies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin