Digital Technologies in the Classroom

1. Digital Technologiesin the Classroom Teaching and Learning with Technology Chapter 4

2. Input Devices in the Classroom Scanners • Convert printed copy or images into a digital version • With Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, scanned text can be saved as a word processing file • Page scanner scan one page at a time • Flat bed scanners can scan one page or multiple pages and can scan from a book

3. Input Devices in the Classroom Digital Cameras • Do not use film but instead capture images to a storage media • May vary in resolution – the higher the resolution the sharper the picture but also the larger the size of the file it creates • Storage media vary from floppy disk to memory card

4. Input Devices in the Classroom Digital Cameras • Stored images are then downloaded to computer for viewing and editing • Often come with small LCD screens on the back of the camera to preview images as you take pictures • Digital photos can be used in any computer software or can be printed on photographic paper to create hard copy photos.

5. Input Devices in the Classroom Graphics Tablets • Use a stylus to draw on an electronic pad • Pressure of the stylus on the pad is converted to images or commands • Allow for greater control and can therefore be used for creating art work • The digitizer, an graphics tablet adaptation, lets teachers add notations to a computer image

6. Input Devices in the Classroom Sound Input Devices • Personal microphones are a component of most multimedia computers • Mics plug into the sound card port on the back of the machine • The mic can be used to add commentary or record music to enhance a computer presentation or tutorial

7. Input Devices in the Classroom Pen Input Devices • Pen input is used with Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) • The stylus is pressed against the PDA screen to record commands or handwritten notes which can be later read as a word processing file • The PDA can also provide management tools such as calendars and phone books

8. Input Devices in the Classroom Touch Screens • Computer monitor screens that are sensitive to touch • Touch screens are best used to issue commands and make selections • They can also be a useful assistive device for students with limited motor skills

9. Input Devices in the Classroom Video / Digital Capture • Video capture cards let you stop a video and capture single still images of each frame as a digital file • Once digital, the sequence of images can be edited and used in sequence as a digital video or used singly as digital graphics

10. Input Devices in the Classroom Electronic Whiteboards • Like traditional whiteboards, dry erase markers can be used to write or draw on them • Electronic whiteboards can then capture the writing or drawing and save it as a digital file • Whiteboard files can then be printed or shared electronically

11. Output Devices in the Classroom Data Projection • Data projectors display a room-size image of the computer screen to a large group • LCD Projection Panel • Sit on top of an overhead projector and are plugged into the computer • Uses the overhead projector’s light source for display so they are limited by the quality of the overhead

12. Output Devices in the Classroom Data Projection • Data Projector • Uses LCD technology but has its own light source • Can be fixed to the ceiling or used as a portable desktop unit • Can usually display both digital (from computer) and video images (from VCR) • Usually include speakers and a remote control

13. Output Devices in the Classroom Data Projection • Converter • Takes a digital computer signal and converts it for display on a television • Very inexpensive compared to other digital display devices • Resolution may not be as clear since most TV monitors to not have the display capacity of computer monitors

14. Output Devices in the Classroom Speakers and Headphones • Small speakers plug into the sound card port of a computer to play sound associated with software • Most sound card ports also have a headphone port to accommodate the use of headphones • To accommodate multiple headphones, a splitter can be purchased a local electronic stores

15. Emerging Technologies Wireless Devices • Computers and handhelds can be connected to a network via wireless technology • Wireless networks eliminate the cost of retrofitting a school for network cables • Wireless networks improve flexibility by freeing computers from cables that tether them to walls – computers can be moved to wherever learning is happening

16. Emerging Technologies Palmtop Computers • PDAs are fast becoming palm top computers with scaled-down versions of the same software found on desk top machines • Newer palmtops are expandable via small expansion cards that can add to their capabilities • PDAs often come with sound, microphone and color for multimedia programs

17. Emerging Technologies E-Books • Electronic books are tablets that display an electronic multimedia version of a book • A single tablet can store many books which can be read and/or listened to by using simple navigational controls • Ebooks can let you take notes as your read • Some PDAs include e-book capability

18. Emerging Technologies Voice Activated Devices • Speaking to the computer to input data rather than typing or clicking is accomplished via voice activation software • Voice input technology is already widely used as an assistive device • Voice activation can make computing more flexible by freeing users from proximity to keyboard or mouse

19. Emerging Technologies Computer Enhancements • Improved Microprocessors • Chips are becoming faster and more powerful • More powerful CPUs will make it possible to perform more complex task faster • Storage and Memory • RAM chip size is increasing making programs faster to access • Storage is increasing making it possible to load and run larger and larger programs • Other storage devices (eg. DVD-Rs) are being developed to maximize portable storage.

20. Emerging Technologies Virtual Environments • Virtual reality software and hardware can be used to create 3-D environments • VR worlds can be representations of aspects of the real world or completely imaginary • VR worlds can let students take “virtual fieldtrips” to places otherwise inaccessible

21. Computers in the Classroom • Computer hardware makes it possible to enhance teaching and learning in many ways • Computer software focuses the hardware on specific tasks appropriate to the classroom • Teachers should review and evaluate both hardware and software carefully to ensure they have selected the best tools for teaching and learning