Impact on homework load, student access considerations...

I have added another part to this area in order to discuss student access and homework load. Most of our students have enough access outside of class time to do writing and such on computers, but a good, fast, reliable Internet connection may be another matter entirely. For one thing, external factors such as the family's ISP's service going down, parental concerns or restrictions on their children, speed of the family's Internet connection, and having to share the Internet computer with other family members are issues that come up. I have had students in the Middle School whose primary computer for doing schoolwork is not connected to the Internet, for example. These factors can make it legitimately difficult for students to complete an online assignment due the day after it's given. I'm also concerned about the potential for adding even more homework to our student's already overflowing plates, frankly. I'm excited about being able to set up a wiki or a Ning for a weekly HW assignment on emerging technology for my students...but this a new HW assignment that is an add-on since I have rarely assigned tech hw in the past.