Consider the differences in how we communicate and make our communication available given wireless laptops, pdas, and email enabled mobile phones. In the past, most communication occurred in synchronous space: at the time, at the moment. As teachers,we work on the board for immediate note-taking, hold live discussions, and generally teach in verbal ways which are, in a sense, fleeting moments. Of course teachers have always prepared readings and assignment sheet as a means to break out of constant synchronicity.
Laptops enable a paradigm shift in the use of asynchronous opportunities. Email in itself has caused a revolution in how we communicate. It is not similar to letter writing, it is clearly something quite different, both in terms of the quantity and near immediacy that physical letters lack.
I believe there is a cultural change afoot in the ways we communicate given the ease of asynchronous connections. For instance, when used appropriately, asynchronous dialogue and larger group discussions can throw open opportunities for student verbal contribution. Those of us who need buffer time to think and process in group dialog benefit greatly, therefore opening new opportunities for teachers to better assess student understanding.
