Technology in the Classroom

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So what is technology in the classroom?Click on a picture!

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Movie Projectors

Movie Projectors have been used for years to show professionally made films and training movies to students of all ages. This provides a consistent source of information to all students at a relatively limited cost. The drawback of this type of technology is that the film can not be readily updated without repurchasing the media and it is difficult to edit out information which becomes stale.

It is also difficult to maintain the attention of an audience which is less than interested when lights are turned off in the classroom.

CD ROMs and DVDs are just methods of storing information, pictures and sounds in a more convenient and permanent format. An optical disk containing images of a daily newspaper will last a lot longer than the paper itself under normal conditions. The room needed to store a year’s images of newspapers is much smaller on an optical disk than a whole storeroom of actual papers. The drawback to using one of these items is that you have to have a method of transferring the information on the disc to something you can read. You can’t just look at the information on the disc as you can the real newspaper.

Optical Discs

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Camera

A camera, can be used to involve the student in the creation of a tableau or to take photos for a digital story. This type of inclusionary activity stimulates the visual and kinesthetic learner. It provides the student with a break in the lecture method of instruction and facilitates communication and organization when groups are used to complete the project.

Students also feel empowered when trusted to use a piece of technology on their own.

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Satellites

Satellites can be used to provide video or audio link capability for distance learning allowing students to attend a class in another location with the ability to ask questions in real time.

These satellites also already provide phone and television networks.

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Phones

Phones not only allow for standard communications but today podcasts can be downloaded to many digital cellular phones. Phones can be used to text message and to link to the internet for email and research.

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Slates

The use of slates for the purpose of learning writing, and mathematics practice was one of the first uses of a technology to assist in learning.

Practice and assignments could be competed by all students without the need for expensive paper and ink.

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Blackboard

Blackboards were an early technology that allowed the teacher to present a visual representation of a lesson in large writing which could be viewed by an entire class.

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Tape Recorder / CD Player

Tape recorders and CD players can be used to record a lesson for review at a later time.

The taping of a lesson for those students who were unable to be present during the original class allows that student to participate in a close a representation of the original class.

A series of tapes on relevant subjects may be kept and loaned to students as background material or clarification of a lesson.

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Phonograph

The phonograph or record player is an early technology which has an obvious use in the study of music but also allowed storage of stories and music that could give students a glimpse of a different time in history or a different culture.

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Books

Though books don’t seem like a technology, they are. Books enabled people to learn by reading. The Technology behind the printing of books required major advances in technology through the ages. From the days of Christian monks copying texts through Gutenberg's movable type press to word processed off-set printing technology has been improving the books that today’s technology is attempting to improve upon.

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Slide/Overhead/Video Projectors

These types of projectors can be three different methods of providing a large image to show to a class or audience, similar to the original use of the blackboard.

Each one of these items also brings different and new capabilities and one may be more appropriate for one location while another more appropriate for a different venue.

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Computers

The modern computer embodies most of the abilities of any of the other technologies depicted on the main page of this presentation. From the capability of the slate to the ability to take pictures on a web cam, enhance the photo or create art, to word processing and printing a book, to playing a movie and communicating with teachers and classes by satellite the computer is the most advanced tool currently available to the teacher.

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Video Cameras

Similar to still image cameras, video cameras allow students to create and tell a story, improve organizational skills and communicate to others who will appear in or work upon the video, as well as express a viewpoint to the ultimate audience.

Video can be saved for future generations and be manipulated, edited and easily distributed to others.

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Radio

Radio began as an entertainment medium and remains so. From this medium a development of talk shows and debates of social issues developed. Today National Public radio provides informative and stimulating debate as well as entertainment. Shows may be scheduled for broadcast to coincide with courses being given at various universities and schools across the country.

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Television

Television was developed as an entertainment medium and an extension of radio. Today the public broadcasting system provides educational and instructive programming as do many specialized subscription television networks. Cooperative agreements allow for college courses to be supplemented by a series of broadcast programs.

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Dramatization

The use of dramatization through the use of props, costume and role play can be considered a rudimentary technology which brings an understanding of the character portrayed to a student not only visually but in a kinesthetic manner.

Personal Digital Assistant

PDA’s and advanced MP3 players hold recordings of music and voice as well as video. However, more advanced types can be enhanced to employ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi ability to link to local area networks and the internet.

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So what is technology in the classroom?

Technology in the classroom is any tangible, tool or device which assists the teacher to impart knowledge or conceptual understanding to the student.

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The EndCreated by R. Priolo

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