Why am I in this class?

To answer the question in a broad, fairly uninteresting way: because I'm interested. I'm fascinated with technology and how it transforms the way we interact with the world. Combining tech with writing is something I'm considering pursuing academically, so taking this class was a pretty obvious step in that direction.
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What do I want to get out of this class?

So, despite being enamored with technology, gadgetry, and things like that, I'm running my two 101 sections fairly tech light. I'm forcing my students to hand in hard copies of all their work. I asked that they refrain from using laptops, and I teach in a pretty bare bones room. I requested a laptop and projector for tomorrow, but I might have put it in too late.

So I don't really understand how to use technology in a meaningful way in a writing classroom. I have ideas about using computers and tablets to enhance revision, collaboration, and peer review, but I also can't figure out how to put it all together. I have students that approach me concerned about affording the books for the class, how can I require them to bring tablets or laptops to our meetings?

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Beyond the practicality of using technology, I'm worried that adding in tech will serve only as a distraction instead of as learning tool. I created the anti-laptop policy based on my own experience as an undergrad. When I would observe my classmates using their laptops, it was primarily as a way to divert attention from the class. They would have multiple tabs open, flipping between facebook, espn, and their email, and be completely disengaged from the class. As 101 is discussion-focused, this lack of attention not only hurts the distracted student, but also his or her classmates who will not get to consider a differing opinion. I couldn't figure out a way to reconcile this, so I asked them to leave their computers in their backpacks. Which, admittedly, isn't the best option.

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I hope that this class gives me an opportunity to address these concerns and to develop strategies toward a more technology-focused classroom. New students are getting more and more used to a multimodal approach toward education. If composition classes are to remain relevant, the way we teach them should shift as well. But I'm not sure how.

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I also have very little experience with teaching in general. So instead of figuring out how to integrate technology with my own philosophy of teaching, I need to develop a philosophy of teaching that hopefully can integrate technology in a meaningful way. I hope that the pedagogical aspects of this class will help me formulate something that I can take into a classroom and make an impact.