Some Technological Devices That Can Be Used in the Classroom

Leveraging technology in the classroom makes students better suited to dealing with technology as adults, and can lighten the workload of teachers and educators. There are a wide variety of technological devices that can be used for specific courses, but a few types of devices can be used in just about any course or grade level classroom to enhance teaching and learning.

1.      Computers

o    Computer literacy is an essential skill in the beginning of the 21st century, and it's important for children to be introduced to computers. The number of computers you have will determine how the computers should be used. If you only have a single computer, then the teacher should use it for curriculum related activities such as grading papers, creating assignments, and running educational software. If you have more than one computer in the classroom you can allow the children to play educational computer games during recess or take turns practicing their word processing skills during a writing assignment.

Digital Projectors

o    Digital projectors are replacing the old fashioned lighted overhead projector and reel to reel film projectors. Digital projectors are mounted in the ceiling of the classroom; they don't take up valuable floor space or require students to move desks around. Digital projectors can be connected to the teacher's computer, allowing the teacher to play educational movies, and to display the contents of the screen for the students to view. The large screens that digital projectors use means that even students at the back of the classroom have a clear view.

Electronic Games

o    Educational games can be used in the classroom, either on computers, or using video game consoles. Games such as the Civilization or SimCity series have been used in the classroom since the 1980s; these games have the added benefit of being entertaining. Students want to play them, and they learn without realizing it.

Printers

o    Printers can be used in the classroom to print out homework papers, and for printing papers for crafts and art assignments. Having a printer in the classroom eliminates the need for the teacher to run to a central printer, and gives the teacher the option to print on demand.

There are various types of technologies currently used in traditional classrooms. Among these are:

• Class website: An easy way to display your student's work is to create a web page designed for your class. Once a web page is designed, teachers can post homework assignments, student work, famous quotes, trivia games, and so much more. In today's society, children know how to use the computer and navigate their way through a website, so why not give them one where they can be a published author. Just be careful as most districts maintain strong policies to manage official websites for a school or classroom. Also, most school districts provide teacher webpages that can easily be viewed through the school district's website.

• Class blogs and wikis: There are a variety of Web 2.0 tools that are currently being implemented in the classroom. Blogs allow for students to maintain a running dialogue, such as a journal,thoughts, ideas, and assignments that also provide for student comment and reflection. Wikis are more group focused to allow multiple members of the group to edit a single document and create a truly collaborative and carefully edited finished product.

• Wireless classroom microphones: Noisy classrooms are a daily occurrence, and with the help of microphones, students are able to hear their teachers more clearly. Children learn better when they hear the teacher clearly. The benefit for teachers is that they no longer lose their voices at the end of the day.

• Mobile devices: Mobile devices such as clickers or smartphone can be used to enhance the experience in the classroom by providing the possibility for professors to get feedback.

• Interactive Whiteboards: An interactive whiteboard that provides touch control of computer applications. These enhance the experience in the classroom by showing anything that can be on a computer screen. This not only aids in visual learning, but it is interactive so the students can draw, write, or manipulate images on the interactive whiteboard.

• Digital video-on-demand: Replacement of hard copy videos (DVD, VHS) with digital video accessed from a central server (e.g. SAFARI Montage). Digital video eliminates the need for in-classroom hardware (players) and allows teachers and students to access video clips immediately by not utilizing the public Internet.

• Online media: Streamed video websites can be utilized to enhance a classroom lesson (e.g. United Streaming, Teacher Tube, etc.)

• Online study tools: Tools that motivate studying by making studying more fun or individualized for the student (e.g. Study Cocoa)

• Digital Games: The field of educational games and serious games has been growing significantly over the last few years. The digital games are being provided as tools for the classroom and have a lot of positive feedback including higher motivation for students.

There are many other tools being utilized depending on the local school board and funds available. These may include: digital cameras, video cameras, interactive whiteboard tools, document cameras, or LCD projectors.

• Podcasts: Podcasting is a relatively new invention that allows anybody to publish files to the Internet where individuals can subscribe and receive new files from people by a subscription. The primary benefit of podcasting for educators is quite simple. It enables teachers to reach students through a medium that is both "cool" and a part of their daily lives. For a technology that only requires a computer, microphone and internet connection, podcasting has the capacity of advancing a student’s education beyond the classroom. When students listen to the podcasts of other students as well as their own, they can quickly demonstrate their capacities to identify and define "quality." This can be a great tool for learning and developing literacy inside and outside the classroom. Podcasting can help sharpen students’ vocabulary, writing, editing, public speaking, and presentation skills. Students will also learn skills that will be valuable in the working world, such as communication, time management, and problem-solving.

Although podcasts are a new phenomenon in classrooms, especially on college campuses, studies have shown the differences in effectiveness between a live lecture versus podcast are minor in terms of the education of the student.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_technology