Introduction
The use of ICT as a form of classroom technology is of advantage to people of all ages starting from elementary school to colleges. The reason why it is important for teachers to use ICT in the classroom is that it grabs the interest of children for they have access to many types of interesting technology and they therefore need to have classes that interest them too. They can improve their knowledge and have fun at the same time by using various forms of ICT equipment. This equipment also provides students with a variety of ways to learn.
The use of ICT in schools has a positive effect on students for it makes them conversant with technology. This has the advantage of making it possible for them to utilize technology in beneficial ways for the rest of their lives. For example, they can learn how to communicate effectively in writing and speaking by the use of computers and audio equipment such as microphones. The students also have access to a large amount of information when teachers use ICT as a form of classroom technology. The information is readily available from the internet.
Information and Communication Technology when used in the appropriate manner in lessons is capable of being efficient in teaching the students and motivating them. The use of technology such as whiteboards that allow for student interaction with different forms of ICT will assist students to overcome any apprehensions they have regarding education. For example, the students can discuss material projected onto whiteboards and gain the advantage of having the opportunity to understand much of the material presented in class.
The use of ICT in classrooms has the probability of improving the standard and quality of education for students. It is also beneficial for the teachers in that it helps them in simplifying their work. It reduces the time required by teachers to plan for lessons and the extra time it would take to follow up on the students. For example, if the students have access to videos, they can borrow them from the library and watch them when they are free. They can also access the information available on the internet without the teacher's presence.
ICT in the classroom is also ideal for language teachers for they use the technology to make learning new languages easier. The language students can utilize the software available for learning new languages and use audio cassettes for practice. The use of ICT equipment like computers as classroom technology gives the students the ability to revise and research information. Classroom technology is a necessary tool for teachers to use if they want their students to succeed and they should therefore consider the use of the many forms of ICT equipment available for teaching lessons.
ICT is being integrated in many areas of the curriculum. The information and resources provided in this theme page are intended to assist educators in using ICT in their classroom.
- Digital content
- Sources and reviews of digital content, learning objects, e-books and interactive whiteboard objects for use in classrooms and e-learning.
- Handheld devices
- Software and resources for hand held devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants and similar hand held devices which may be used in and
- ICT teaching units
- Practical teaching information, ideas, activities
- Innovative Technologies
- New and innovative technologies for use in the classroom.
- Internet Search Engines
- Lists of search engines subdivided by type.
- Learning Quests
- Learning Quests (or webquests) incorporate internet resources into a problem solving, collaborative, classroom pedagogy based on big questions and dee
- Online ICT tutorials
- Learning to use learning technologies relevant across the curriculum
- Online Projects
- Online collaborative curriculum projects for students/schools
- Online safety and netiquette
- Teaching about behaviour online and issues of internet safety, including examples of Acceptable Use Policies and cyber safety resources
- Software reviews
- Reviews of online tools and software, including reviews of commercial software relevant and accessible to education and training.
- Software sites
- Sites for locating and downloading educational software, including Web 2.0, open source, shareware and demonstration packages.
- Teachers using blogs
- Examples of teacher and educational blogs, and guides for blogging with students
- Using the Internet
- The use of online web or intranet-based resources in the curriculum
Classroom Technology For All grade Students
One of the key things that teachers in the 21st century have to do in order to give their pupils a good education that will help them in today's world is to ensure that they have "no child left behind" when it comes to digital technology. All your students should be able to bridge the digital divide and know how to use the tools of communication, doing business and finding information of today. And the way you use your classroom technology will have a lot to do with this.
Thankfully, grants of all shapes and sizes have made sure that even schools that might seem disadvantaged do have plenty of classroom technology on tap. The schools that might seem most at-risk of being on the wrong side of the digital divide, such as poorer inner-city schools or remote rural schools, often end up with the classroom technology they need. In many cases, the school setting may be the only place that students in these areas get to use such a wide range of technological tools.
But the presence, absence or type of classroom technology you have available isn't the only thing that determines the width of the technological divide. On the contrary - you have to use your classroom technology to bridge the digital divide that already exists.
You have to know the other factors that contribute to the digital divide in order to know how to use the tools you have and to bridge that divide:
Home access. Some of your students may have their own computer at home with wireless access, a webcam, their own website and blog, etc. etc. Others may occasionally use the family's one and only computer. And others may not have any access to a computer at all outside the classroom setting. While it may seem like a great idea for a teacher to have YouTube posts of their key lessons, a Facebook group for their class and a teacher's blog, all these won't be much good if half your class doesn't have access at home to the internet, and some of your students will be at a disadvantage.
Community acceptance of technology. Some neighborhoods and parents are very pro-technology. Sometimes, you even have parents whose businesses sponsor or donate the classroom technology and push for teaching your students the skills that are needed for the 21st century workplace. But this isn't always the case. The parents of your students may be a bit slow and muddled about new techniques, or they may be quite suspicious and even slightly hostile towards new technology - your task in this case is not only to teach your students how to use the internet, etc. but also how to do so safely... and to reassure the parents that your pupils are not spending their time in class on X-rated sites, in chat rooms giving information to potential paedophiles... or playing mindless games.
Your school's goals. In some schools, the most important goal may be to improve test scores and to get all the Adequate Yearly Progress boxes ticked off, which means that you may not have time to do things like, for example, setting up a class webpage, even though this is a great project. In other schools, you may have more of a free rein and be able to experiment with your class and even develop new ways of using your classroom technology.
Your fellow staff members. If you work for a school that has a high proportion of younger teachers - or older teachers who have embraced the potential of classroom technology - you will find it easier to incorporate new technologies into your lessons. If you are the "new young fellow/lady" surrounded by colleagues who come up with statements like "Back in my day, we didn't have all this online stuff and we knew how to use the library to find what we wanted," or "Kids these days (fill in the blank)" or "Videos and films are best kept for when you have to call in the relief teachers," you may have more of an uphill battle on your hands.
Classroom Technology - New Terms For the 21st Century Classroom
As a teacher, you know the importance of a good vocabulary and using the right technical terms for the right things. So it's important that you keep your own vocabulary up to date when it comes all the different new pieces of classroom technology. You need to know your Java from your jpegs and your blogs from your browsers.
So what terms do you need to be familiar with for the classroom technology of today? Knowing what they are (and that they exist) is an important first step - understanding what they are can also help you work out how you can use each type of technology in your classroom to best effect.
Classroom Technology Glossary:
Web 2.0: No, this is not a new version of the internet or Windows Explorer/Firefox/Google that you will have to download. Instead, this refers to the way the internet tends to work these days. Before, the internet was a place that you went to look up and read information - kind of like a library or an encyclopedia. Now, the web is a place where you can read and write bits and pieces. One classic example that has its place as classroom technology is the use of forums, where members can write and post their opinions on a given topic.
Blog The word sounds horrible, but it is short for "web log". This is a sort of publicly available online diary where somebody can post short articles (opinion pieces, information, events, etc.) on a regular basis (daily, weekly, fortnightly). One way that this can be turned into classroom technology is for a teacher to have his/her own blog that students can read, and the teacher can post advice, study tips, homework reminders, etc.
Social networking: Social networking sites are where users can connect and converse -privately or publicly - to others. People can chat via the keyboard, post links to sites they recommend, find people with common interests and so forth. Delicious, Twitter, Facebook and Bebo are some example of the most "basic" social networking sites. Chat rooms are other examples. More sophisticated ones (which tend not to be used as classroom technology) are those of the Second Life type, where users create an "avatar" who lives a virtual life in the Second Life world: shopping, making friends, and the like.
Wiki: "Wiki" is derived from the Hawaiian for "quick" and tends to refer to a website that anybody can edit. Wikipedia is the best known one, and while it may not the be best place for your students to do research in, it does have some strong requirements and standards relating to distinguishing opinion from fact, unbiased writing and supporting references.
RSS "Rich Site Summary". An "RSS Feed" is a quick summary of new material that has been added to a site of interest to your subscribers. In the world of classroom technology, an RSS feed can be sent to your "subscribers" (i.e. students) who can see the headlines of any newsletters posted online, some of the quick links that have been posted, a brief summary of any new blog posts, and so forth.
Podcasting: Audio and video clips that can be posted for viewing or listening on iPods (which are like the walkman of the 1980s but much more sophisticated). Clips can be distributed to "subscribers" via RSS feeds. Familiar pieces of classroom technology such as digital cameras are used to create these.
Filter: A must for any school computer that has internet access. A filter blocks undesirable sites so your students can't access them. No filter is 100% perfect. Some over-block and some can be dodged, so teachers need to stay vigilant.
Classroom Technology - Not Keeping Up to Classroom Demands
In many school districts the technology team spends much more time repairing equipment or answering software questions from faculty rather than planning new projects or helping teachers incorporate technology into their instruction.
In addition, according to a recent survey, IT staffing shortages continue to afflict schools keeping many of them from realizing the full potential of classroom technology as a learning tool. The survey indicated that less than one third of the respondents work in districts where adequate IT staff is present to meet their needs. On top of that, slightly more than half of those who responded indicated they spend more than half their time addressing help desk issues instead of working on long-range planning and projects. The survey suggests that the burdens placed on school technology teams are limiting innovation rather than fostering it.
1. Classroom Integration
Topping the list of specific IT positions the respondents said were lacking in the schools was instructional technologist, an indication that teachers are not getting the help they need to use classroom technology to improve their instruction.
2. Funding Challenges
Most school leaders cite funding as the number one challenge facing their technology departments and one source of their staffing problems as well. Even districts who have received grants for equipment have problems going forward. Once district received a $600,000 for laptops but is now faced with replacement and upgrade costs to the district when the grant money is gone.
3. Rapid Technological Advances
Another key challenge to school IT departments is the rapid pace at which new or upgraded forms of technology are emerging. For example, bandwidth needs have increased tremendously in recent years, driven by the rise of video applications, and are placing a huge burden on school network infrastructures.
4. The Impact of Data
One technology department staff member reports that they support over twenty disparate data systems that directly support classroom technology. The time spent supporting databases is now equal to time spent on desktop support.
Conclusion
Without the help they need from the experts in the IT department to help them integrate computer technology into their lesson plans, teachers are challenged to find classroom technology that does not require IT support. In this computer-centric, visually-oriented age, we often forget about our tried-and-true technologies, such as educational DVDs and video, that work reliably a majority of the time, even when other technologies fail.
How Children Benefit From the Use of Classroom Technology
However, if a teacher utilizes the many forms of classroom technology available when teaching young children, it can enhance their concentration on the subject and make them easily understand the topics discussed in class.
The equipment used in classrooms to aid in teaching children is dynamic for it grabs the attention of the children. For example, if a child is able to interact actively with items displayed on a screen, learning the information presented there will be fun. The other way that a teacher can enhance the way children respond to lessons is by using colorful displays that may be pictures or diagrams. Teachers can also use software programs such as PowerPoint where children can learn and practice their digital skills.
Classroom technology can also consist of sound equipment that makes the teachers voice louder to ensure that all children hear it clearly. You can also find communication tools that the children can use to raise their voices and these work especially well for shy children who feel afraid to talk louder. The other equipment available is that which makes it easier for children to communicate by the use of symbols, letters and numbers. This will allow interaction of the whole class.
Using audio and visual technology in the classroom will benefit the pupils in that it will raise the standard of instruction leading to higher grades. The use of technology in the classroom also makes it possible for instructors to use a voting system that makes the pupils to participate actively in the lesson by answering questions displayed on the board. This can help the teacher to easily asses how the pupils understand the information passed to them. A voting system similar to that used by some television programs will inform the teacher on the percentage of pupils who have understood the topic. For example, it may be possible for twenty percent of the class to answer correctly and if this is the case, the teacher will definitely opt to repeat and clarify the points.
On the other hand, if ninety percent of the pupils give the correct answer to the question asked, the teacher can continue teaching more information. Using technology effectively in the classroom will end in higher productivity for the teachers and pupils alike. The reason behind this fact is that since technology makes information easier to understand, teachers will pass on knowledge faster and the pupils will likewise grasp it faster. The information can also come out clearly and accurately for children.
The use of technology in the classroom such as computer libraries enables the pupils to find information faster than if they were using regular libraries. Many teachers who use classroom technology state that it helps them a lot when preparing lessons and managing the class. Teachers in this century will be very effective in their teaching methods if they use the multiple forms of classroom technology in their lessons.
How Classroom Technology Benefits Students and Their Instructors
The use of classroom technology has the benefit of making learning fun and in this way; students do not feel coaxed to learn material. The instructors also benefit for they do not have to do a lot of explaining. Examples of this technology include PowerPoint presentation, proximas, interactive DVDs, MySpace and scavenger hunts among others. In order to benefit the students, the instructor should use this technology in a manner that allows the student to actively interact with it and set goals that are achievable.
Looking at Microsoft PowerPoint as a form of classroom technology, you can see the benefits that it offers. The PowerPoint software program enables users to create presentations that may involve text or images and move them in slides. This will assist the instructor to convey information in a step by step form that is easily understood by students. The presentations allow the students to actively engage in the lesson in an enjoyable manner. Learning ideas by doing is more effective than only listening to information.
Proximas work by displaying information from a computer on a wide screen and are therefore good forms of classroom technology for instructors can use them to display PowerPoint presentations or information from websites. Using such technology also makes the students more likely to engage in meaningful discussions and this will lead to a higher understanding of lessons.
Instructors may be apprehensive about using classroom technology for reasons such as the time required to prepare a presentation but they should know that their time is well spent. It is far much better to teach lessons in a way that students will grasp most of the ideas than using the quick lecture method which research shows that most students retain ten percent of what they note down. An example to illustrate this is that it is far much easier to retain the information covered in the news if you watched it on television.
The other benefit offered by using technology in the classroom is that it prepares students to use the technology in the workplace. This is of advantage to society for advancements in technology mean increased development and more job opportunities. For example, by using PowerPoint presentations in class, the student gets more knowledgeable in computer use and this will assist the student when finding employment. Getting more knowledgeable in the use websites in research will enable the student to get access to lots of information that could be of assistance after school.
The use of technology in the classroom can also help the students prepare for jobs that do not exist at the time. For example a job such as webmaster came up very recently and most webmasters got the training by themselves. Some websites also offer online degrees and it is very necessary for students to know how to use technology for them to learn by correspondence. It is therefore a good thing for instructors to use technology in the classroom for the benefits of using it outweigh the costs and preparations required.
How to Solve Problems Associated With Classroom Technology
However, many schools and teachers have the issue of problems associated with the use of technology keeping them from fully utilizing the opportunities available in using technology for the good of students in class. However, there are ways in which teachers and schools can solve problems associated with using technology in the classroom.
One issue that comes up with the use of classroom technology is the costs involved. It may seem overwhelming to many schools to buy expensive equipment to use in teaching lessons. For example, a school may not have the necessary funds to equip all classes with computers. The solution for this is to use other forms of classroom technology that are not very expensive. For example, the use of videos in teaching is appropriate. However since computers are very efficient forms of technology for use in the classroom, you can get good quality used computers from offices or organizations that are upgrading their computers where you can buy them at low prices.
The other problem that teachers encounter in class is the use of the internet for assignments whereby some students plagiarize their assignments. The best solution to this is to test whether the students know the information that they wrote down by asking them questions by word of mouth when you get suspicious. If the student cannot answer information written on their paper, it means that most likely, they copied it direct from the web and the best thing is to let them know that plagiarism is an offense that will result in failing the paper.
The other problem that comes about from the use of the internet as a form of classroom technology is exposure of students to objectionable material. The solution for this is to make the habit of going around the class when the students are using the internet and make sure that no one logs on to objectionable sites. The other way to solve this is to use filters that block sites that may carry objectionable material. You can also check the sites visited at the end of the day by using the history feature of the browser.
There are also costs associated with the use of classroom technology such as paper handouts. You can reduce these costs by using overhead projectors instead of the paper. Projectors will be useful when giving the students a pop-quiz, reading passages or directions to follow for activities.
The other issue that teachers face and find to be a problem at times is the technological terms that constantly change. It is not possible to use terms that you are not sure about when teaching. The best solution for this problem is to visit educational sites regularly to get information on the terms. The other thing that teachers may find advantageous is to get information on the new technologies that may be useful for the classroom.
Solving the problems listed above will ensure that classroom technology is not a bother to the teacher and will make sure that the use of technology in the classroom continues well.
Some Types of Classroom Technology Are Effective in Teaching
Classroom technology can enhance the way they learn and influence how they understand and retain material learned. There are many forms of technology available that teachers can integrate into the classroom. An example of how teachers can use technology to their advantage when teaching is to create websites because it is now very easy to do so. Teachers have many websites available to host them and they include class notes online, school and teacher, educator pages and teacher website among others. These websites make it easy for teachers to start using websites as a form of classroom technology. However, teachers can also create websites by using the Microsoft Office Front-Page software program if they do not need hosting or want to control their own websites.
Having a class website is an effective tool for teaching because students like visiting websites belonging to their teachers. Such a website can carry many functions for teachers. For example, it can list the assignments given to the students and make it possible for them to download it, teachers can display work created by students and communicate with parents. The students can also add content to such a website and teachers can have the option of opening it to other internet users.
Another form of classroom technology that teachers can use effectively in the classroom is a web log or blog in short. The web log allows students to put in short information online regularly. A teacher can have a blog where students can read information that may be tips on homework, advice or any other information. Students can also put in their own entries into blogs that other students can respond creating a form of journal. Information passed on here will relate to the specific subjects taught by the teacher.
The other form of classroom technology that teachers can effectively use is pod casting. Podcast work like radio shows where many people pass information. The information passed in the class will relate to lectures and the teacher may add music and pictures depending on the topic of discussion. The equipment required for pod casts is a microphone that one connects to a computer and software that allows for pod casting. The software is available for download. Students can podcast discussions or create podcast to share researched information. Pod casting also allows the students to interview people who may be more knowledgeable in the specific subject or topic that the teacher is teaching.
Another type of classroom technology that teachers can incorporate into lessons is e-books. These are books available for download online and teachers can create e-books that the students can use. The steps to follow are to research information, put it on Microsoft Word and make additions that make it interesting and then upload it to Lulu. The students will then be able to access it. The use of such technology in the classroom will not only make the lessons interesting, but will also enhance the understanding of material covered in class.
Classroom Technology Not Keeping Up With Students
As a teacher, it is very likely you understand the necessity of classroom technology. The area where perhaps you need help is in the technical training to make it easy to teach these concepts to your students. After all, the technology options of today have gone way beyond the calculators and overhead projectors of yesterday.
If you take a quick look around, you'll see that kids of today use the Internet to find information, share their research with kids throughout the world and post their thoughts on blogs and social networking sites. If you aren't a part of this phenomenon, how do you teach it to your kids? Any attempt without the proper training and they will see right through you. It could easily be a case of the student becoming the teacher.
In fact, the PEW Internet & American Life Project discovered 93 percent of teens between the ages of 12 and 17 are online. Another 89 percent of teens report that technology, in the form of the Internet, cell phones and other devices, make their lives much easier. Based on this information, classroom technology is even more relevant today than previously thought.
Consider the National School Boards Association study which found 96 percent of students with access to the Internet have used social networking of some kind. These tools include blogging, instant messaging and online communities. Surprisingly, these students are actually discussing educational topics 59 percent of the time, including schoolwork and college applications.
Simply being tech savvy isn't enough for students to make it in the 21st century, nor is it enough for you to be able to prepare your students to be able to effectively compete. To date, technology education is not making the grade and part of the problem is a lack of access to the proper tech training for educators. Believe it or not, many of the tools you need to expand your capabilities and enhance your classroom are at your fingertips.
While you can start with the Internet, why not start first with your own school library? Your librarian likely already has access to a whole wealth of resources that can be used to enhance your classroom technology. Perhaps your library offers a variety of videos for viewing in the classroom or perhaps there is a computer lab within the library itself. Even better, ask your librarian. Chances are, he or she has already received training on presenting more technology in their own lesson plans. Learn from their knowledge.
Once you have explored this option, look to the Internet and education sites to see what they have to offer. There are literally thousands of technological options online that can be used to introduce classroom technology beyond face value. If you aren't sure where to start, do a simple Google search on technology options for the classroom and go from there. You may be amazed at what you can find to your benefit.
Classroom Technology to Support Teaching
When you were going through your teacher training, did you ever wish you could be a fly on the wall in an experienced teacher's classroom so you could see exactly how he/she handled things? You always change the classroom dynamics by introducing a novelty in the form of an observer, so actually visiting a class for real has its disadvantages as well as its advantages. But by using classroom technology, you can be an observer in someone else's class.
Of course, this innovative use of classroom technology doesn't just apply to beginner teachers and trainee teachers. Even more experienced teachers need to upskill and learn new techniques of doing things in class. Again, watching someone else who has done the hard work of developing the new technique is a great way to learn - after all, you probably know how your pupils pick up concepts and techniques by watching them demonstrated on video (if you haven't learned this, you really need to upskill!).
This new development is possible, thanks to a new secure website being set up by a group of Californian educators. This innovation, created by LessonLab, consists of a collection of exemplary lessons by experienced teachers in a real class. Of course, with classroom technology being so common these days, the presence of a Webcam in the classroom is no novelty and the children in the class act like they normally act. The lessons are presented on a split screen, so the viewers can chat online while they watch, and receive answers from an education coach.
Many companies and publishers are interested in this new development. You are probably familiar with books and encyclopedias that are designed to be used in tandem with that most familiar form of classroom technology: the internet. These "internet linked" encyclopedias have now been extended to textbooks, and publishers such as Scholastic Inc. and Pearsons are beginning to produce textbooks linked with exemplary lessons and demonstrations.
You have probably already learned about the different learning styles and how to cater to them in your classroom. And these techniques also have to be remembered by those who teach the teachers. Teachers have their own learning styles, too, and up until now, reading educational journals (and websites and online articles like this one) and listening to presentations at training days have been the main ways of learning about new tools and techniques. Now the visual learners at the front of the classroom are being catered for, as well as the visual learners sitting in the desks.
Internet As a Form of Classroom Technology Affects Education
Technology also evolves at a high pace nowadays than it did years ago when it took lots of time for advancements in technology to happen. Since the invention of the internet and the wide use of computers everywhere, it has made it necessary for teachers to incorporate such technology into the classroom. Classroom technology carries many advantages with it because it reduces the workload of the teacher and student. For example, it is easy to store information on a computer for easy reference later than it is to store bulky printed copies.
Classroom technology affects education in positive ways. For example, the use of computers makes it easier for students to research information for they have lots of it available on the internet. It is far much faster, simpler and therefore better to get it there than from the library or from encyclopedias. Students do not need to memorize many facts for they can readily get the information from the internet when necessary.
The other good effect of classroom technology is that it makes classroom interaction possible. For example, the use of technology such as Microsoft Office applications like PowerPoint allows students to work in groups thereby getting room for discussion and this can enhance how much they understand in class.
The use of the internet in education also simplifies tutoring students. The reason behind this is that it is now possible to find tutoring services online. Therefore, students can get assistance on the topics that give them a hard time whenever they log on into tutoring websites whether in school or at home.
The other way that classroom technology affects education in a good way is when teachers download useful software. An example is the Maple and Mathematica software, which assists the students in making good calculations in college algebra. The internet also makes revising easier for the student and an example is the web assignment sites that the students can get into, practice on their skills in subjects like mathematics and receive solutions to the problems.
The use of the internet also comes in handy when the students are at home because they can read free information without going to libraries. The use of the internet in education is very beneficial for students also get to apply for jobs or apply to higher colleges online which is fast and reliable. It is also possible for students to earn degrees online that is a good thing for students who have handicaps or those who travel frequently. It is also very beneficial for employed students for they can take some classes online when they are free. The internet also offers low cost learning and it therefore good for those students who cannot afford to pay for regular classes.
New Technology in Traditional Classroom
There are many kinds of computer and non-computer technologies currently in use in traditional classrooms. Among these are:
- Computer in the classroom: Having a computer in the classroom is an asset to any teacher. With a computer in the classroom, teachers are able to demonstrate a new lesson, present new material, illustrate how to use new programs, and show new websites.
- Class website: What better way to display your student's work, than to create a web page designed just 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 current day 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.
- Class blogs and wikis: These are some of a variety of Web 2.0 tools that are currently being implemented in the classroom. Blogs allow for students to maintain a running dialogue, like a journal, of thoughts, ideas, and assignments that also provide for student comment and reiterative 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 clearer. 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.
- SmartBoards: 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 SmartBoard.
- Online media: Streamed video websites can be utilized to enhance a classroom lesson (e.g. United Streaming, Teacher Tube, etc.)
1. Digital cameras,
2. Video cameras,
3. Interactive whiteboard tools,
4. Document cameras
5. Lcd projectors.
Advantages of New Technology
Educational technology is intended to improve education over what it would be without technology. Some of the claimed benefits are listed below:
· Easy-to-access course materials. Instructors can post the course material or important information on a course website, which means students can study at a time and location they prefer and can obtain the study material very quickly
· Student motivation. Computer-based instruction can give instant feedback to students and explain correct answers. Moreover, a computer is patient and non-judgmental, which can give the student motivation to continue learning. According to James Kulik, who studies the effectiveness of computers used for instruction, students usually learn more in less time when receiving computer-based instruction and they like classes more and develop more positive attitudes toward computers in computer-based classes. The American educator, Cassandra B. Whyte, researched and reported about the importance of locus of control and successful academic performance and by the late 1980's, she wrote of how important computer usage and information technology would become in the higher education experience of the future.
· Wide participation. Learning material can be used for long distance learning and are accessible to a wider audience.
· Improved student writing. It is convenient for students to edit their written work on word processors, which can, in turn, improve the quality of their writing. According to some studies, the students are better at critiquing and editing written work that is exchanged over a computer network with students they know.
· Subjects made easier to learn. Many different types of educational software are designed and developed to help children or teenagers to learn specific subjects. Examples include pre-school software, computer simulators, and graphics software.
· A structure that is more amenable to measurement and improvement of outcomes. With proper structuring it can become easier to monitor and maintain student work while also quickly gauging modifications to the instruction necessary to enhance student learning.
21st Century Teaching and Learning Tools for Classroom Activity
Using Web 2.0-Sites for teachers to learn more about tech 2.0 web and 21st century resources.
¨ Educational Origami: http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/ Educational Origami is a blog, and a wiki, about the integration of technology into the classroom.
¨ Classroom web 2.0 http://www.classroom20.com/ The social network for those interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in education.
¨ The Connected Classroom: http://theconnectedclassroom.wikispaces.com/Classroom
¨ Collaboration Nation: http://collaborationnation.wikispaces.com/ This is a collaborative wiki integrating many different digital tools.
¨ Globalization 101: http://www.globalization101.org/ provides students and teachers with information about interdisciplinary learning opportunities on this complex phenomenon. Check out the resources that include lesson plans, issue briefs, expert interviews, and news analyses. Featured also are the World Bank and IMF issue brief in Chinese and the Culture Issue Brief in Spanish.
¨ Language Learning and web: http://www.teachertube.com/ Check out the World Languages Channel-plenty of videos for class or places for your classes to upload videos (of course with appropriate permission)
Wikispaces-a course management or collaborative tool. Use it also as a place to host (load up/embed)
¨ Wikispaces: www.wikispaces.com This site shows how to make and use wikispaces. There is also a search in order to look for other wikis.
¨ LHS French classes: http://lhsfrenchclasses.wikispaces.com This wikispace shows how to use a wiki as a course management system and collaborative workspace for a French class. (Toni Theisen’s wikispace)
Resources for podcasting/podcasts
¨ Gcast: http://www.gcast.com/ These free sites lets the user upload audio files or make a podcast using a cell phone and a toll free numbers. Podcasts can be stored on the site or a widget can be embedded on a website, wikispace or blog.
¨ Odeo: http://odeo.com/categories/27-Education :This site has variety of audio files including audio books and podcasts in many languages on many subjects.
¨ Podomatic: http://www.podomatic.com/index.html This site provides a free service to make podcasts.
¨ Make online podcast fast, free and easy. http://vocaroo.com/
¨ Voicethread: http://voicethread.com/#home Group discussion around images, documents and videos. Great for digital storytelling.
Blog sites, Videos sites, video converters
¨ Blogger: http://www.blogger.com/ This online blogging tool is an easy tool to use to start blogging.
¨ TeacherTube: http://www.teachertube.com/ The goal of this site to provide an online community for sharing instructional teacher videos. Upload lesson plan videos or watch student videos. There are also instructional videos to help teacher learn more about using technology. Go to World Languages Channel.
¨ PWN-Download YouTube videos fast and easy and free. http://deturl.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCqan7kVOF
¨ Zamzar: http://www.zamzar.com/ This is an online free video conversion site. Here videos from sites like YouTube can be converted and downloaded.
¨ TubeSock: http://stinkbot.com/Tubesock/ This is an online video conversion site. Here videos from sites like YouTube can be converted and downloaded. There is a $15 yearly fee.
Online Photo Galleries and resources for pictures
¨ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com This is a digital photo sharing website. It is also a great site to find pictures of many places in the world.
Fun tools
¨ Read the Words: http://www.readthewords.com/ Add text, choose a reader from among 15 in French, Spanish and English. Avatar reader reads document. Download as MP3. Helps students with listening, reading and pronunciation. Amazing.
¨ Voki: http://www.voki.com/ Make your own talking avatar in many languages for your blog or wikispace,
¨ Comic strips and comic books: http://www.toondoo.com/ Check out an easy way for students to write or create. Look at the mini books on the Amendments, see how students synthesize science projects.
¨ Make comic strips using characters on the site: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
¨ Bubbleshare: http://www.bubbleshare.com/ Make a slideshow of pictures and add captions and comments with sound.
¨ Animoto: http://animoto.com/ Load up pictures and/or add music and then Animoto syncs music and images to make a video like a movie trailer.
¨ Slideshare: http://slideshare.net : Share our powerpoint presentations with the world and view what other are doing.
¨ Dabbleboard: http://www.dabbleboard.com/ Dabbleboard is a powerful yet easy-to-use digital whiteboard. Draw with flexible tools. Reuse previously-made drawings. Share and collaborate in real-time.
¨ Photocube:Make a photcube for speaking practice: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/productinfo/cube
¨ Searchcrystal: http://www.searchcrystal.com/home.html It is a search visualization tool that lets you search and compare multiple engines in one place.
World Languages websites
¨ Learn French in Boston Podcasts: http://www.learnfrenchinboston.com Podcasts including explanations of French poetry and practice sessions.
¨ Lit Gloss: http://wings.buffalo.edu/litgloss/list-of-texts.shtml This site has a connection to original selections of literature in many different languages. Also included is the context of the piece and additional resources to better understand it.
¨ Extraits de la littérature française en texte avec audio: http://www.archivox.com/
¨ BBC French: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/mafrance/ This sites has many French resources and activities that students can do on their own.
¨ BBC Spanish: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/ This sites has many Spanish resources and activities that students can do on their own.
¨ BBC German: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/ This sites has many German resources and activities that students can do on their own.
¨ BBC Italian: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/ This sites has many Italian resources and activities that students can do on their own.
¨ Italian activities: http://webgerman.com/languages/italian.htm
¨ Digital Media Archive: http://larcdma.sdsu.edu/ Language Acquisition Resource Center-Digital Media resources for many languages.
¨ Picasso webquest: http://www.webquest.org/questgarden/lessons/36507-061002164745/t-index.htm Webquest and activities about Picasso
¨ Folktales: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=91 Exploring World Cultures through Folktales.
¨ Read, Write, Think: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/persuasion_map/ This site has an interactive map to help students to begin to write a persuasive essay.
¨ Mona Lisa: www.cite-sciences.fr/francais/ala_cite/expo/explora/image/mona/ (What’s Mona Lisa up to-in many languages-fun and good for description)
¨ Self-Portrait Picasso: http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html (Make your own self-portrait à la Picasso)
¨ Parts of the face: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/mi-cara.html Drag the parts of the face to picture.
¨ Chinese characters: http://www.usc.edu/dept/ealc/chinese/newweb/character_page.html Animated Chinese characters.
¨ The White Rose-pictures-German: http://www.images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-31,GGGL:en&q=the%20white%20rose&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
¨ Die Weisse Rose video-google video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4408392973805153808&q=sophie+scholl
¨ SOPHIE SCHOLL-THE FINAL DAYS: The trailer-In German with English subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM5A4ETW_Io&feature=related
¨ Learn 35 languages for free in ITunes: http://www.lifeclever.com/learn-35-languages-for-free-in-itunes/
¨ Native Web Language Resources: http://www.nativeweb.org/resources/languages_linguistics/native_american_languages/
¨ Surviving Sounds of Haida: Kaasan, Alaska: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBjx5_cMPpw
¨ Chief Marie Smith Jones Prays for the Eyaks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqxGB0lR2Gc On Monday, January 21, 2008, Chief Marie Smith Jones, the last native speaker of Alaska's Eyak language died. In this excerpt from the 1995 Documentary, More Than Words, Chief Marie prays that her people can recover their culture. This took place in Cordova, Alaska - a small fishing community along Prince William Sound.
Science websites for World Languages
¨ Globe Center: http://www.globe.gov/r?lang=en&nav=1 This site is a worldwide hands-on interactive science program in English with navigation available in Dutch, English, French, German, Russian, & Spanish.
¨ La Cité: http://www.cite-sciences.fr/francais/web_cite_fs.htm Lots of science activities in French.
Digital Storytelling
¨ Center for Digital Storytelling: http://www.storycenter.org/index1.html The Center for Digital Storytelling is an arts organization rooted in the art of personal storytelling. They assist people of all ages in using the tools of digital media to craft, record, share, and value the stories of individuals and communities.
¨ Educational uses of digital Storytelling: http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-storytelling This is a website devoted to the educational uses of digital storytelling with guidelines to create digital stories.
Project-based Learning
¨ Project-based learning: http://www.edutopia.org/projectbasedlearning In project-based learning, students work in teams to explore real-world problems and create presentations to share what they have learned. Sample projects and directions are included.
Teacher Resources
¨ ITunesU: www.apple.com/itunesu/ This site gives higher education institutions an ingenious way to get audio and video content out to the world. Want to hear conversations with contemporary artists, listen to a lecture from a professor from Stanford University, science and engineering courses from MIT, a movie clip on how to protect civil liberties from Penn State or see a music clip from the world on the Smithsonian Global Sound Project.
¨ Copyright-friendly: http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com/ This site has Copyright-Friendly Images and Sound for Use in Media Projects and Web Pages, Blogs, Wikis, etc.
¨ Differentiated Instruction: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/di.htm List of resources to use when differentiating instruction.
¨ Royality-free music for projects: http://mrsmaineswiki.wikispaces.com/Free+music+for+projects
¨ International directory of search engines: http://www.searchenginecolossus.com/
¨ A visual search engine
¨ World Mapper-Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. From mobile phone usage to literacy and mortality rates, there is a great range of maps here: http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/index.html
¨ Here are some useful resources and sites that you can can for class activities, projects and/or research. http://lhsfrenchclasses.wikispaces.com/Resources+for+classes
¨ Language Links: Teaching with the Web: http://www.langlink.net/langlink/
References :
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/schooled/school_theme_pages/ictclass