Technologies can boost pedagogy in powerful ways. They can provide simulations of everything from galaxies to ecologies to atoms. They can offer immediate feedback and advice, new kinds of composition, and more, more, more...

Students can participate in different competitions, teleconferences and even get homework help over the Internet.

However, as with any emerging technology, the way to maturity is long. One of the distracting neon temptations along the way is technoglitz.

There is a dismaying tendency for computer-based educational products to brandish megahertz splendidly but blunder about instructionally. The "wow" factor may generate motivation, but where does the learning come in?

The basic of learning are basics for all seasons, including seasons in front of a computer screen and a keyboard. Deep learning calls for more than software worlds to explore. It calls for a crisp vision of meaningful goals, tasks that demand through engagement and serve those goals, informative feedback that advanced learners' understanding and capabilities, connections to students' everyday lives and to diverse subject areas, and patterns of collaboration and coaching among learners and teachers. Basics like these can get lost when resources are poured into coaxing the technological tail to wag eagerly.

But there is no reason for despair, though. If we will keep pedagogy the top technology that it should be, we can enjoy a superb jet assist from the technological tail.