Technological Advances in the Classroom By: Linda Strahler Patrick Hayes Gina Meyer

1. Technological Advances in the ClassroomBy: Linda StrahlerPatrick HayesGina Meyer

2. Technological Benefits in the Classroom • Enhances a child’s educational experience by creating a variety of methods to teach • Supplements classroom instruction • Students enjoy being interactive when learning • Provides visualization in a variety of formats • Improves lectures • Reaches students of all learning styles

3. Smart Boards • Turns the traditional white board into an interactive tool • Makes learning fun and is user friendly • Students learn better through hands on activities such as the ones offered for the smart board • Offers many different programs: such as math, reading, writing, geography tools, and games • Can be used in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and college ~Cost: varies between $1000 and $3000 depending on the size ~ Additional teacher training is needed in order to use this device

4. Clickers • Transmits an individual’s response via radio frequency to a reader that plugs into a USB port of any computer • Teachers can ask students a multiple choice question and students can respond via their clickers. • The audience poll appears on the power point screen immediately after the student clicks in • Being used on college campuses in lectures • Cost: $ 35.00 at school’s bookstore • Benefits teachers by showing them how well their students know the material • Additional information about where to find the icliker can be found at: http://www.iclicker.com/index.html

5. Online Classes • A method of class presentation in which instruction is delivered over the internet • Cost: usually is the same cost as other classes • Benefits: • Students can participate in class at their own schedule • Students have the ability to re-read lectures • Over 75% of colleges and universities offer online degree programs • Teaches skills in using technologies

6. Podcasts • Definition: a delivery mechanism to store audio/video on a portable player. Organizations can produce and provide audio and video broadcasts • Benefits: • Recorded classes can be downloaded and made available to students. • Podcasts allow students to publish themselves and their projects. • Students can be kept up to date by downloading Podcasts from different news networks. • Can serve as somewhat of an electronic portfolio for students working with media arts. http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcasts.html

7. Blogs • Modern alternative to classroom journals • Fun way for kids to practice writing at home • Good for any age and they are free of cost • Easy way to share thoughts and ideas between peers • Teachers and students can communicate their thoughts and questions • There are many good websites for educational blogging, here are a few: http://www.bloggingintheclassroom.com/ http://educational.blogs.com/ http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=4992

8. Books Online • Definition: an electronic book made available online for downloading. • Benefits • Saves the student money • Easy to access book for students • Differs from just an everyday e-book. An e-book is usually found on a CD and needs to be placed into some kind of reader. http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/