Introduction
“Although the ecological metaphor seems to be a powerful and useful analytical tool for understanding why computers are unused, underused or misused in schools we want to caution that a metaphor, by definition, is merely a rhetorical and conceptual device.  We do not yet know exactly the limits of the metaphor, but we hope that our readers will not attempt to impose all theories and practices related to biological ecology on the human social system. (Zhao)”

But that is exactly what DLG 10 would like to do.  After reading this article we were left wondering what it all meant?  Why were we to look at computers in schools as a co-existent relationship?  We believe that the relationship is deeper than just co-existing so we would like to propose a different  metaphor for technology use and/or under use in schools.  We would like you to consider a biotechnological relationship: that of a virus.

To achieve this we need to re-evaluate some key terms, review the life cycle of a virus, and draw out the new metaphor for the life cycle of the “techno-virus”.