There are numerous materials and tech tools that teachers can incorporate into their classrooms. Here is a list of what students are asking for.
How could you incorporate one of these into your classroom? (Come up with your own idea, don't just restate the idea they listed)
http://www.edutopia.org/skys-limit
I think laptops in every classroom would be a great idea. I wouldn't go as far as to eliminate all pencil and paper work and textbooks. Children still need to learn how to print and have legible penmanship. There is no way to judge penmanship if all of the work is done on the computer. Also I think it would be very difficult to do math problems on the computer. Sometimes it's easier and quicker just to write things down. I would however, use the laptops to familiarize my students with different programs and software. In class the students can work on assignments through power point and excel to show how creative they can be with the material. There would be designated times when the students could use the laptops because they can lead to distractions. If a student is browsing the web while a lesson is being given, they may not retain all of the information.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of using laptops in the classroom, I think by installing different software applications, such as the ones listed under software can help encourage more learning, and may feel more like play then actually work without the children knowing. Sending the children home with these laptops will allow for further practice on certain subjects that they may be struggling with. Even, assigning homework and posting their assignments on a website like moodle. I also thought of a different type of technology that wasn’t on the website; but in a recent study people have been found reading more books on the e Readers. I think this would be a great piece of technology in the classroom, because it encourages children to read and may even make it more exciting. However, I have to agree with Leah on the sense that the use of pencil and paper work should still be used and not totally taken away, since it is an essential skill for their future.
ReplyDeleteI think laptops in the classroom would be very beneficial for the students and teachers alike. I also like the public address system because I believe it would help make a better and more fun community. Using a webcam to communicate with other countries or other states is also a cool idea because it opens the kids up to more cultures. Using different software and games on the computer is also a good idea to keep the kids engaged. I have personally played Sid Myers Civilization and I am a history major and I have to say the game is really fun and very informative. It is pretty accurate for a video game. I like the idea of adding technology to classrooms because kids are surrounded by technology everywhere else why not do it in the classroom too.
ReplyDeleteThere is an option not mentioned that I think would be awesome in the classroom, tablets. I think touch screen tablets like the iPad or Samsung's Galaxy will replace laptops in some situations, much like electronic media has greatly replaced print media. It would be great for the kids to play Words with Friends or Draw Something, as a reward for behavior or as an individual/small group activity. I love these games because they are rewarding, but they can be educational. Draw Something requires you to know how to spell, for example Budduh vs. Buddhu vs. Buddha. Which one is right? My friend didn't know (to be honest, i wasn't too sure either), do you?
ReplyDeleteA tablet would also be great for art projects, as much of the computer animation artist use drawing pads and pens, and now tablets. See this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moAGgO7Wuo0&feature=related
Laptops would be great for students and teachers because having something they can type on to take notes makes note taking easier and more organized and having a standard format for handing in homework/classwork makes it easier for the teacher to organize the work and having it typed out helps the teacher with having to decode messy handwriting. Cell phones, digital cameras, and video cameras can be used to do creative assignments and keep in touch with students. As far as video games and ipods are concerned, unless they're playing educational games I don't really see a need to have them in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe flash-drive is something that I personally have only recently been introduced to. I think it is a wonderful tool and I wish that my previous teachers had educated me on using them. They move so much work from computer to computer so instead of relying on emailing papers and other important work to myself I can just save it on the flash-drive and always have it with me. I hope that it will be used more and more in the classroom because of how easy it is to carry around. I would absolutely use these in my classroom. If I could I would buy each student one and require them to save all of their work for me on it.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I would not allow cell phones in my classroom. Regardless of whether or not they are using it to study, they can use the website mentioned at home to flip through "index cards" to study. I also believe that taking pictures of the board instead of writing them in a notebook is not good because I think writing things down, as tedious and annoying as it may be, helps solidify the lesson and will help the student remember more than if they took a picture of it.
I think that the flashdrive and the laptop are important aspects. I think it is an excellent idea to have students have a flash drive so that they never have an excuse not to have their homework. I also believe the laptop is a good idea because not every student can have acess to a computer, and a portable one is a great idea so that stuents can bring them back and forth from home to school. I really do not agree with the cell phones, or ipods, or video cameras. I think that cell phones should only be used if the student has an emergency like problem. Also, the ipods can only be distracting in my opinion, but if the students are just writing in class and it helps them to concentrate, I don't see anything wrong with that. Also, I think video cameras have no place in the classroom unless it's part of a specific project.
ReplyDeleteThe use of Ipods in the classroom is a great way to keep the students quiet and focused while doing independent work, also the use of applications through a smart board is a great way to bring the method of visual learning to the classroom for the students. I do not agree with the cell phones and cameras and laptops, although these items are of great technological use they only serve as a distraction in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI would use the Ipod in the class room because of its abilities with new applications and songs my things can be taught with an Ipod. I would use this because there are songs to help kids learn math, science and history that are catchy and easy to remember, which will help them solve problems and do well on tests. Also some of the apps on Ipods can be useful in teaching geomotry, geography, etc. the Ipod is a very useful and if used correctly can change the way we teach.
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