Top Tech Tools for the Classroom

What are the coolest new tech tools being used in the classroom? Wheres "high-tech" going in the classroom? What's going to be next?
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poproc - Fri, 2007-08-10 15:53

I use

Google Documents for education. www,google.com/educators/ (Collobrative word processor and spreadsheet and web site bulider)

Filimentality ( lesson plans).

Rubistar fpr teachers. rubistar.4teachers.org (rubrics)

Thinkfinity www.Thinkfinity.org Resources and lesson plans

screencast-o-matic.com ( create tutorials usig screen shots)

GCF learnfree.org (online computer trainig.

 

 

 

kingmarsh - Thu, 2007-12-13 21:12

I use a smart Quiz tool to create online tests and assessments. The good thing is that I can use images, Flash, music and record narration for my testing content.

You can see a sample at

http://www.sameshow.com/quiz-creator/sample.html

 

newtech07 - Thu, 2007-08-23 02:16

How do you use the GCP in the classroom. I like this site and I think they do a nice job explaning the "HOW TO".

 

jmill123 - Thu, 2007-09-20 08:43

We are using Think.com this year in my Language Arts classroom (seventh grade).  See my discussion thread for more info.

 

"Life is short and the world is wide."

teach-er - Thu, 2007-09-20 11:52

we are currently using uboost.  It's affiliated with weekly reader and allows your students to read the online weekly reader magazine (current events, news, current science, and much more), take quizzes, earn points, and get cool prizes.  Take advantage of it because it's free till december.  I just got my students on it and they love it! 

go to uboost.com and check it out!

wpeterson - Fri, 2008-08-29 12:39

If you meant the facilities in real classroom, multimedia system like projector is the must-have; if you just meant the class community, we can have more educational technologies for virtual classroom over Internet.

I recommend the open source learning system Moodle (http://moodle.org/) as the platform, you can build courses in this classroom.

More, I agree with the learning assessment in classroom with quiz creator (http://www.sameshow.com/quiz-creator.html), which could be integrated in the learning system as well.

About next... the Learning 2.0? We can disscuss more on the Classroom 2.0 (http://www.classroom20.com/).

William Peterson

deankearney - Mon, 2008-09-29 04:20

This past summer my school has purchased 5 SMARTBoards. They have been around for a while, but they have become real popular recently in my district. The teachers that have them in their classrooms put a lot of time into planning their lessons. I work with the teachers on the tech side and visit their classrooms; their students are motivated and enthusiastic. We are looking into purchasing the Senteo interactive response system for teachers to share and use for assessing student content knowledge.

Dean

Anonymous (not verified) - Sat, 2008-10-04 12:20

I believe one of the latest trends is using GPS in the classroom. First it was something you saw in little pockets around the country, but now it's popping up everywhere along with lesson plan books to support their use. They are really great tools that can be used in Science, Math, Social Studies, and PE.

In addition, I believe some of the best hardware you can purchase is a projector with an interactive whiteboard, as mentioned above. Whether it be SMARTboard or Promethean, one of these tools in every classroom would be a wonderful addition. Currently in the UK, they are now testing out interactive white desktops - similar to SMART, but right on the students' desks.

MrsSmoke

deankearney - Mon, 2008-10-13 03:00

I have used GPS in Communications Technology for grade 12's. There is a transportation unit at the end of the course. Students conduct research on there uses, notably the local Municipal government tracks there snow plows in the winter using GPS. Following a short research assignment students learn how to use them and we go on a hike on local walking trails near the school. Students mark there waypoints along the hike and then we head back to the school. Students enjoy getting out; I share the resource with the geography teachers on staff.

Dean

glenlane - Mon, 2008-10-06 10:40

I see the use of smartboards (interactive whiteboard) as one of the technologies that will change the way we teach in the future. The interaction is the neat part and it has the opportunity to bring learning to another level.
This is demonstrated in the youtube video seen at the following web adress:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjdNPMZJbLs&NR=1

Glen

Ranyah Al-taamneh - Tue, 2008-10-07 23:04

Hi Glen
I agree with you. Interactive white boards are good tools to use in the classroom because of the excellent methods of demonstrations ideas by using a finger like a mouse or writing on the board. Also, interactive white boards are considered a colorful tool that allows the presenter to use a pen or a highlighter to view the content using different colors. This motivates students all the time and captures their attention. Moreover, interactive white boards are excellent tools that can be used in the constructivist teaching and learning processes, which helps student to think creatively and enhance their critical thinking.
For more information about interactive white boards visit http://teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html
Source : from “why do I like interactive white boards so much?” by Dr. Mary Ann Bell.

Ranyah

glenlane - Wed, 2008-10-08 07:56

Hey Ranyah, I will be sure to check out that website you suggested. I am also taking part in a discussion forum called Classroom 2.0 (http://www.classroom20.com/). I posted a question regarding Smartboards and a lady from Indiana who has one in her class and uses it on a regular basis replied with the following information that was quite helpful in seeing the potential of this technology.

There are tutorials on the SmartBoard website http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/LMS.asp

There are also SmartBoard podcasts in iTunes and some blogs that cater to using the SmartBoard.
These are the main websites that I visit for SmartBoard ideas.
http://smartboards.typepad.com/
http://pdtogo.com/smart/
http://www.ncusd203.org/central/html/what/math/smartboard/
(This one has a math emphasis but there is lots of good info there for all disciplines)

Thanks for you input.

Glen

Mary (not verified) - Sat, 2008-12-06 01:13

I found some free whiteboard training for teachers. Shows how to integrate them into the classroom. It's only a 6 month offer, but it's still great. Found it at www.simpletechlearning.com

deankearney - Wed, 2008-10-29 07:13

I have just got a digital presenter in my classroom and I am looking for suggestions on how to incorporate it into my lessons? To me it seems like a very expensive overhead projector?

kimm - Wed, 2008-11-05 05:13

Well I don't need sophisticated devices in my class, I am always focusing on simple and most practical devices. I am currently working with lcd projectors and I don't need anything else besides them.

Anonymous (not verified) - Tue, 2008-11-25 03:01

I'm curious............are your learners engaged and participating in authentic learning experiences with just an lcd projector? How are students using those lcd projectors to solve-real world problems or address curriculum standards?

Wilson E. (not verified) - Tue, 2008-12-09 01:34

I have an LCD projector in my classroom - but my class is designed around internet research! All assignment are given to the students via a web-site which is supported by the the school Board. They also submit all of their work using an online E-Portfolio system called E-Pearl. I also use a blog to track what work we have been doing in class, so the kids who are absent can catch up at home. As a result the LCD projector is PRICELESS as a visual tool for showing students how to navigate webpages, save documents, etc.

My other goal for this year is giving my students a variety of options for PRESENTING and sharing their work - like audio files or movies - instead of the same old papers and projects. Again, this often requires the LCD projector It takes time but it is appreciated, especially for kids with different needs!

Is is applicable in every single classroom as well as with every single teaching style? Probably not. But don't let that stop experimentation! Start small and then work your way up...Begin with basic power point presentations, add in some movies, then start working towards Wikis and more collaborative projects.

Anonymous (not verified) - Thu, 2008-11-13 08:05

For taking a quick temperature of my class I use a "free" simple survey instrument called polldaddy.com. You can create a survey up to 100 questions for free.

Rob Theriault (not verified) - Thu, 2008-11-20 11:37

Hi,
I am using Adobe Presenter to create mini lessons and I hope to use it to develop/enhance online courses. It's a great software for narrating PowerPoint and you can add MCQs and other types of questions to your Powerpoints. The cost is approx. $400 CDN. It's very ituitive.
see: http://www.adobe.com/products/presenter/

Is anyone using Articulate? I would be curious to learn whether people think it's a better product?

cheers
Rob

Chris (not verified) - Thu, 2008-12-04 23:41

We are implementing the Qomo wireless tablets into our classrooms. They are a wonderful tool that allows our teachers to be mobile and continue teaching. Unlike the interactive whiteboards, you will never have to be in the way because you are not stuck at the board.

The other nice thing about the tablets,besides the price-$350 compared to thousands for interactive whiteboards, is that it eliminates transition time for allowing students to actively contribute to the classroom.

Wilson E. (not verified) - Tue, 2008-12-09 01:36

Can you give me more details about their classroom application? I checked out their site but it only gives me specs. More info please!

chris (not verified) - Wed, 2008-12-10 23:22

Our HS Math department has gone hog wild using these devices to replace using overhead projectors, ELMO's, and using the whiteboards as their main teaching/communication tool. The tablet has two different applications plus it can also be used to control your computer from where ever you are in your classroom. Application #1) electronic whiteboard with the ability to export files as PDF's etc. Also, the tablet allows for recording movies. Our teachers work problems through the tablet and post them to their teacher webpages. This allows students to see and hear the teacher when working on homework outside of that classroom time. #2) Screen annotation. Our science teachers can be showing a educational video and stop the video and write overtop of the video image.

Also, teachers can pass the tablet off to students to work problems for the rest of the class without transition time.

~I agree, the website does the product no justice.

E.J. Wilson (not verified) - Thu, 2008-12-11 22:14

Ok, that gives me a better idea, is there a link where I could see one of these videos in action?

chris (not verified) - Fri, 2008-12-12 00:08

here are a few sites with examples...

PDF examples from the qomo http://tinyurl.com/6fcg6o

video example from the qomo http://tinyurl.com/5fvyvs
~choose the top item entitled 4x

Let me know what you think. Not of the quality of my presentation, but of the tools of the qomo and the impact that this could have on learning.

E.J. Wilson (not verified) - Mon, 2008-12-15 22:18

Those links did not come through so easily, but I get the idea. I run a computer lab so I'm looking into the use of one of these tablets with 30+ kids on their computers at the same time. We have the same issue(s) with the new Active/Smart Boards - Although they're neat, are they really that necessary? That and they seem to be easier to introduce in certain settings, like the Math/Science department as opposed to my own class, where an LCD projector is all you really need.

I could see the Quomo having a great impact depending on the set-up of the classroom. What I'm noticing these days is that I have an easier time introducing stuff at the beginning of the year! Once I get rolling, it's hard to implement something new in to the routine...

Thanks again!

chris (not verified) - Thu, 2008-12-04 23:45

We are using jing to create screencasts for faculty how-to's. We are also getting the TAG students to create how-to's for younger students within the district.

We really like jing because the videos produced can be played right through IE-no special software needed to view.

LisaG (not verified) - Sat, 2008-12-06 01:12

I've been using Jing for about two months. It's so easy and quick. Used to use expensive programs, but I actually prefer Jing due to its simplicity!

Chris (not verified) - Thu, 2008-12-11 05:28

I got frustrated enough with the school webfilter blocking any "tinyurl's" as proxy to go out and find a tool to reverse the tinyurl addresses.

check it out...http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.info?_id=xk9igG833BGaf_dgmLokhQ

Anonymous (not verified) - Fri, 2009-03-20 14:09

www.WordAhead.com is a video vocabulary building website. This website has a collection of short, simple and fun video clips for difficult English words. The videos are entirely appropriate for middle and high school students. The website is a great learning and teaching tool equally benefitting both students and teachers. The students are encouraged to play with words, create their own vocabulary videos and upload their work to the website. Teachers may direct activities and assign word projects to the students.