Devices
In this modern time, an increasing amount of public school classrooms are equipped with technology tools to enhance the educational curriculum. However, it has come to my attention in my teaching experience that many teachers are not being trained to use these devices to their full potential. One of the most important goals of this website is to give teachers the opportunity to learn how to use technology is a practical sense in the classroom. See below for a short description of some of the technological devices that are commonly available in today's classroom and then explore the different types of technological tools, like videoconferencing sites, virtual field trips, and collaboration tools, that depend of the effective use of these devices.
Desktops/Laptops
Many classrooms have access to at least one computer in the classroom with access to the internet. The lesson plans in this website rely on having at least one desktop or laptop computer and an internet connection. Depending on the school district provides, you could have one of four varieties of computers: A PC desktop, PC laptop, Mac desktop, or a Mac PC. As long as there is an internet connection, all four of these variations will be able to be used in the context of the lessons plans on this website. However, there are several important differences between a PC and a Mac, and while they may have the same capabilities, people are generally more proficient with using one over the other. It is important to maximizing the effectiveness of a computer's capability in order to familiarize yourself with the your computer, it's programs, and how to use the features of each program. In my experience, this is the largest discrepancy between technology availability and technology use in the classroom. Some schools may have access to sophisticated computers programs and features, but if teachers are not trained in how to use these programs and features or informed that the programs and features even exist, it is impossible for them to use this technology to it's full academic potential. Feeling uncomfortable with technology may discourage teachers from attempting to use their computers at all, but from what I have observed, teachers are eager to learn more about technology use in the classroom, but wish they were given more opportunities for training.
Mac vs. PC
See the table below to compare the most basic differences between a Mac computer and a PC:
Projectors
Projectors are usually connected to both a projection screen and a computer (either a desktop or laptop) in order to display the content that is shown on the computer on a screen in front of the classroom. This is useful for walking students through a website, computer documents, or for displaying information underneath a document camera. Many schools are also equipped with document cameras that project items onto the projection screen and have zoom and focusing capabilities. For the lesson plans on this website, having a projection is imperative to the success of the whole group instruction lessons as these lessons entail videoconferencing that will need to be projected for the class to see.
Smartboards
SmartBoards are interactive whiteboards that allow teachers and students to collaborative with the touch of a finger. They are connected to either a desktop or laptop and project what is seen on the computer screen onto the SmartBoard, similar to a projection screen. The only difference is that once the images are projected, the screen can be manipulated to perform in the way that a computer does by using your finger or a pen directly onto the screen. This is a great way to engage students and allow them to create their own work with ease.
Webcams
While webcams are less commonly used than computers and projectors, they can be a tremendous resource for incorporating technology into the classroom. Many laptops, both Macs and PCs, are equipped with a built-in webcam and microphone ready to use with the desired technology tools. If your classroom is only equipped with a desktop, you may have to purchase a separate webcam, but these are very affordable ranging anywhere from about $5 to $60 depending on the desired quality. Once a separate webcam is purchased, they are simple to install and generally only require plugging in a USB port. See the below examples of webcams that can be purchased from amazon.com or follow the link:
For the lesson plans on this website, having a webcam is imperative to the success of the whole group instruction lessons as these lessons entail videoconferencing that will need to be aired through the use of some time of webcam.
Document Cameras
Document Cameras, like ELMOs or LadiBugs, can be used in the classroom to display documents, artifacts, or learning materials. The document camera is hooked up to the projection screen and has zoom and focus capabilities to make the image on the screen clear and detailed for student viewing. There are many benefits of the document camera including but not limited to: providing benefits to visual and hands-on learners, reducing copies that the teacher has to make, and displaying what materials will be used for a lesson on the projection screen to minimize confusion.
iPods and iPads
iPods and iPads in the classroom are becoming an increasingly popular devices to be integrated into the elementary classroom. These tools can be used in whole class, small group, or individual instruction to increase engagement among students. Some of the uses of iPods and iPads in the classroom include: educational apps, personal dictionaries, taking pictures of information/documents, participating in interactive activities on a shared space, creating videos, recording audio, homework organizer/planner, collecting and monitoring data, and many more.
Technical Support
See the following sites for technical support when using the above devices:
For Mac computers, iPods, and iPads: http://www.apple.com/support/contact/
For PC computers: http://pcsupport.about.com/
For Projector and Document Camera support: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp
For SmartBoard support: http://smarttech.com/Home%20Page/Solutions/Education%20Solutions/Support
For Mac computers, iPods, and iPads: http://www.apple.com/support/contact/
For PC computers: http://pcsupport.about.com/
For Projector and Document Camera support: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp
For SmartBoard support: http://smarttech.com/Home%20Page/Solutions/Education%20Solutions/Support