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
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