My fifth graders use lap top computers daily in a multitude of ways to aid their learning. They use technology to practice, reinforce, extend, and assess their learning through projects and other assignments that they research and create with software, a network connection, and technology. Technology motivates my students and keeps them aware of the global society in which they live. They prepare projects for their classroom community as well as the web; their global community. Students are able to learn in a real time setting while practicing authentic learning skills and critical thinking behaviors in creative engaging activities.
I've never asked them what their favorite thing about having technology in their classroom is. Being kids, they would probably say having access to approved online games during earned free time. If directed to specifically answer about their favorite thing about using technology in the classroom, I think you would hear things about using the computer for research as opposed to the "old fashioned" way of using encyclopedias. With just a few keystrokes, you can have pages of hits related to your questions. Of course, the students don't know the many lessons of preparation that go into the understanding of skim and scan and choosing appropriate responses from among those responses. How do we know what is "good" information, etc. When you read the encyclopedia, you were relatively sure of you information! Those are our new and more evolved discussions about how our thinking must change; particularly when we use technology to access data and create projects with accurate information.