Useful Technology for the Classroom

From Carrie: Given the view of schooling in the readings for this week, which technologies do you think are most likely to be taken up in schools? Why?

I expect that technologies that are inexpensive and engage the students in collaborative ways are more likely to be used in schools. One example is VoiceThread, where students can post their thinking and have other students comment on it. There's a free version for educators, and it controls who can see the VoiceThread: the "public" is only people who have been invited to join by educators. Students would be able to view, solve problems, and work with others outside of classroom. They can share their work with students in other schools, other states, other countries. Here's a link to hook up with other teachers that want to share their VT with you: Voicethread 4 Education.

Provided there are computers available, I think math visualization tools like Geometer Sketchpad and Fathom would be terrific additions to the teacher's toolbox. They allow students to "mess around" with numbers and see the connections so much more easily than if you're working with pencil and paper. Even if there aren't individual computers for each student, the ability to link one of these technologies to the activboard in the front of the classroom would be beneficial.


Which technologies push your thinking about teaching and learning? Why? Do these two lists necessarily line up?

I'd like to say that I would support 'flow experiences' in the classroom for my students, but I have a hard time visualizing what that would look like in the context of a videogame being used in the classroom. Of course, you can experience flow without a videogame, but I'm not sure there's a particular technology that would enable that to happen. I do want my students engaged, I do want them to make connections with the content, and I do want them to feel that they are an integral part of their learning. I'm not sure how to judge any given technology in general, but only know that I will evaluate what makes sense for my students as I get to know them.

I'd like the students to have just-in-time learning, yet I feel that having a foundation is critical as well. In terms of science labs, I would want them to have a background in the subject before they started the lab, while still allowing for discovery to happen. I remember labs in high school where we had no idea what the teacher was trying to accomplish, and that led to tons of frustrated students. I don't want to give them all the answers before they do the lab, either, so it's a balancing act. I know that the lessons I remember the best are those I found that surprised me.

I don't think the lists line up because what is reasonable to expect in schools are not going to be cutting-edge in most cases. The bureaucracy of a big business makes it hard to change the direction of schools in a short time. Certainly, training new teachers to be comfortable with technology tools is a good step in the right direction.