Technology Innovations in the Classroom By: Gretchen Brown, Sarah Denham, & Adam LaMaide

Technology Technology is evolving rapidly in the teaching atmosphere such as classrooms. It has opened up new ways teaching is presented. When students use technology as a tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by the teacher or textbook. Technology uses allow students to be actively thinking about information, making choice and executing skills than a teacher-led lesson. The teacher role changes and is no longer the center of attention as the dispenser of information, but plays the role as the facilitator, setting project goals and providing guidelines and resources.

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Computers Computers started to be used in classrooms in the 1990’s.

Pros Teachers can use a PowerPoint on their computers for review games, such as “Jeopardy,”“The Weakest Link,”and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”(Haynes). Since computers have been added to schools the attendance of the students have improved, and they dropout rates have decreased (Rodgers). –Students feel more challenged, more engaged, and more independent being able to use computers in schools.

Pros Continued People can type their notes instead of writing them. o Some people may have a hard time reading their writing or they may type faster than they can write. People feel more organized having all their reminders and information in one place. Helpful for students who have a hard time seeing the board, they can have the PowerPoint in front of them on their computers.

Cons Many low-income students do not have access to internet at home (Isaacson). –Therefore they cannot do their homework at home, causing the students to become frustrated. This may also be hard for teachers to try to expand their curriculum. –Washington Post found that about 3 percent of low-income students have access to Internet at home, and about 50 percent of higher-income students have access to the Internet (Isaacson). Could be a distraction in classroom. Create delays in class time. Students can comprehend textbooks better than reading it on a computer (Isaacson).

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The Age of the Tablet

Improved pathways to become educated

But how?! With more ways to learn we are capable of so much more then before. Here are a few simple but yet intriguing ways a tablet can enhance the learning ability we posses. Art- there are endless amounts of apps that combine and match colors to help precise the masterpiece. Once completed they can share their galleries with students for critique and encouragement. Science- Don't like dissecting a frog? There an APP for that. Everything from the periodic table of elements to brain science, anatomy, plants, glossaries- apps can be the springboard for scientific curiosity.

You're right. Very intriguing! History can be a difficult subject for young children who are stationed in the present day. However tablets can bring to life ancient civilizations through interactive eBooks, videos, and even games that outline the trials and hardships of the people who’ve gone before us. Special Needs- For those who are deaf, tablets can be a lifesaver. Others with different handicaps (autism, down syndrome, etc.) can have their curriculum tailored through specific apps that help them learn through the faculties they have.

The weight of my backpack replaces the weight of my wallet...

Can't be too biased though... Here are some PROS and CONS of both Tablets help students learn more material faster. Tablets have too many distractions for classroom use. E-textbooks on tablets cost on average 50-60% less than print textbooks. People who read print text comprehend more, remember more, and learn more than those who read digital text. Tablets help students better prepare for a world immersed in technology. Many students do not have sufficient home internet bandwidth to use tablets Tablets allow teachers to better customize student learning.

SMART Boards

What is a SMART Board? The SMART Board interactive teaching system is a hand-touch screen connected to a personal computer or laptop and a digital projector. Both front- and rear-projector models are available. Teachers can display information from their computers onto a screen, usually a 77-inch screen. Instead of writing lessons on the board, educators can simply type them into their computers, at school or at home and display them onto the SMART Board. And, rather than being called up to the chalkboard, kids enjoy being called on the use the touch screen (Blossom).

Tools for Teachers With a touch-sensitive screen that most teachers find easier to use than a keyboard, the SMART Board allows educators and students to navigate their way through the Internet and other daily lesson plans without the use or chalk or markers---just a touch of the hand. The SMART Board system also has digital ink, which allows teachers to write over applications on the screen. Class lessons can be saved and easily retrieved for future reference. The new teaching technology also gives teachers the ease of moving around the classroom from student to student, rather than being stationary in front of the class (Blossom).

Student Attention Being able to have full access to the Internet through the SMART Board system provides students with even more learning opportunities like streaming videos and sound. Now, rather than just showing students a picture of a certain animal they may be studying, classes can see the animals in action on the big screen and hear the actual sounds they make---and the kids love it. The SMART Board is putting a wow-factor in learning that teachers say is making a big difference in the classroom (Blossom).

Cost of SMART Boards The cost of a SMART Board can vary, but for a front- projector model and accompanying equipment, school systems can expect to spend on average about $3,500 per classroom, as of The new technology is funded through some school systems, but more often they are purchased with the help of parents through fund raising activities (Blossom).

Why Students Like SMART Boards Today's kids are used to technology and even when it involves learning, it's fun to them. With so much time being spent on the computers and cell phones, today's students are visual and seem to excel when they can learn in a hands-on environment (Blossom).

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Works Cited