Technology-Infused Classroom

What does the technology-infused classroom looks like...

This image is from http://fuz-elogic.blogspot.com/

This is an excellent visual example of what I would like to see as an technology infused classroom. When we think of technology this is what we would want to use as a teacher. However, do we have this in our classroom? The budget cuts in education across the United States make this almost impossible. Yes, there are grants out there, but even those are disappearing. I do not want to sound negative about this, but only newly built schools are able to have this technology to educate student with.

The other aspect of this is training teachers to use technology in the classroom. How many teachers know how to use these items and include them in their instruction? Does this mean we need to add another class in their teacher training program? 

What is being used now in classrooms.

• iPads - http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/10/13/ushering-ipad-into-the-classroom.aspx and http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/ 
• SMARTBoards - http://www.scholastic.com/interactivewhiteboards/ and http://exchange.smarttech.com/search.html?m=01
• PowerPoint lessons 
• Overhead projector with document camera
• Wireless Laptop Labs - http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/wirelesslab.htm

Many districts do this better than others and some schools do this better than others as well. It is often the younger teacher that is motivated to use technology in their classroom. However, the more senior teacher on staff needs to tune their skills in technology or their students will fall behind the others. It should be part of their professional development plan to keep their licencing up to date. Kids respond to technology since it is infused into their daily life, so educators need to keep up with the students needs. 

What all of this looks like for success...

1. Teacher training
2. Up to date equipment
3. Student literacy using technology
4. Meeting and setting standards for success
5. Think beyond paper, pencils and paper books

Interesting article

There are times when I find an article that speaks to me... I am very passionate about education reform and meeting the needs of students in this nation. Sometimes another country has better ideas of how to have positive and pragmatic educational reform.
http://www.nea.org/home/40991.htm

Visual Literacy in the Classroom

Teaching students of mixed ability and some lacking basic reading skills, I must look at how I am to deliver the content information. In this I need to rely on visuals. I am lucky that I have a document camera, a hook up from my computer to a In Focus projector. I am able to show visual documents and point out ideas using the document camera. What is even better is being able to link the computer with the InFocus projector. I am able to stream video clips, show Powerpoint slide show and even take my students on a virtual field trip to the White House all in one class period.

My students can gain the knowledge and experience using the internet in the classroom. This was not even a thought 15 years ago when I first started teaching. The only thing I was able to use in my social studies class is the computer lab and CD Rom of educational games on each computer. There was no interaction between students and only between the student and the game. Students can still do that, but now there are ways for them to interact with each other in a learning game/simulation. 

Using the internet and visuals has opened the world to students who would not be able to experience due to poverty, learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities. It opens the world for new experiences and to broaden the students visual vocabulary. It is the most exciting teaching tool I have been able use. I can only hope that there will be more options in the future. A few links that I suggest for teachers are...

www.khanacademy.org excellent for math and science.

www.neok12.com/ an excellent resource for elementary school teachers, but good for basic concepts in high school.
www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_social.shtml Social studies resource for elementary and middle school teachers
youtube.com an all around resource for about every topic or interest