Hardware available in my school includes: computers, monitors, mouse, keyboards, printers, CD/DVD RW drives, USB ports, USBs, scanners, image projector, digital camera, external hard drives, Interactive Whiteboards, Chromebooks, Tablets and the server hardware. Most hardware I use every day without any thought and I guess we all take them for granted. These tools help teachers and students access information and create, play, watch, learn, store and print.
In the last 12 months our principal has focused on purchasing tablets for use in each classroom. He chose Tablets as they were cheaper than iPads and our technical support team recommended them. The ratio is 1:3 in infants and 1:2 in primary classrooms. Most teachers use the tablets in small group activities using the web, apps, camera etc. The teachers were given tablets 12 months before they were introduced into the classroom. The teachers had the time to get used to the tablet before they tried using it with the students. Teachers also had the ability to mark their roll on the tablets. Some teachers embraced the tablets while other put them in a drawer or cupboard and did not use them at all. When the classes were issued tablets the same teachers who embraced this technology suggested Apps to purchase for their classes and they used them to help their students learn every day.
We had a Family Maths night at our school last year. Each Stage used various tools to show the families what Maths looks like in the classroom today. Our stage used the Interactive Whiteboard and tablets to play a Maths games and the parents loved it. We also had some hands on activities using concrete material and the parents had the opportunity to ask questions of the teachers so they could feel comfortable about helping their child learn about Maths. Students love to use the Tablets. They think they are just playing games and they are very comfortable using this type of technology. Teachers have different reactions to the tablets depending on their own experiences. The teachers who embraced the introduction actively use the tablets with their students and plan learning experiences using appropriate apps and games. Teachers who are not comfortable or unwilling to learn about the tablets tend to use the Tablets as a “Free time” activity for their fast finishing students.
Using technology has made a huge difference to teaching and learning in my classroom. Personally I use the Interactive Whiteboard for most lessons. It is visual and the children are able to be involved in the lessons as they often show their knowledge when using the board. Tablets, computers and Chromebooks are available for the students to use in lessons.
Technology seems to be heading to smaller more capable devices, mostly with touch screen or hands free functions. We are now able to buy smart watches that are compact and attached to our wrists, large multi-touch screen desks, Smart boards, robots, 3D printing and head mounted displays are already a reality in some classrooms. Fridges, benchtops and walls can now fitted with computers to make life easier. The world is getting smaller with all this technology at our fingertips anywhere and anytime. The future of Educational Technology could only follow these trends. I predict we will see smaller technology that is easier to carry for students that is able to more functions quicker in the future. I also think white/smartboards will be replaced by touchscreen LCD screens capable of detecting multiple touch inputs from many students simultaneously.
Voogt, Knezek, Cox, Knezek, & Brummelhuis (2011) raised a few issues that I think could be researched more like:
Can ICT provide situations where students can learn at their own pace, focus on problem solving and be involved in their assessments?
What other ways can we use infrastructure to address individual student needs?
Is technology making a difference and how can that be measured?
How can we change the teachers’ attitude and competencies using ICT?
Cox (2012) also raised a few issues that I think could be researched more like:
Do children who use ICT at home have an advantage in the classroom?
Extensive teacher training was an issue in the 1980’s, why is it still an issue now?
Are surveys the most effective way to research?
Should research methods change?
Cox, M.J. (2012), Formal to informal learning with IT: research challenges and issues for e-learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00483. Located http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00483.x
Voogt J., Knezek G., Cox M.J., Knezek D.&ten Brummelhuis A. (2011) Under which conditions does ICT have a positive effect on teaching and learning? Acall to action. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 15 November 2011, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00453.x. Located http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00453.x
In the last 12 months our principal has focused on purchasing tablets for use in each classroom. He chose Tablets as they were cheaper than iPads and our technical support team recommended them. The ratio is 1:3 in infants and 1:2 in primary classrooms. Most teachers use the tablets in small group activities using the web, apps, camera etc. The teachers were given tablets 12 months before they were introduced into the classroom. The teachers had the time to get used to the tablet before they tried using it with the students. Teachers also had the ability to mark their roll on the tablets. Some teachers embraced the tablets while other put them in a drawer or cupboard and did not use them at all. When the classes were issued tablets the same teachers who embraced this technology suggested Apps to purchase for their classes and they used them to help their students learn every day.
We had a Family Maths night at our school last year. Each Stage used various tools to show the families what Maths looks like in the classroom today. Our stage used the Interactive Whiteboard and tablets to play a Maths games and the parents loved it. We also had some hands on activities using concrete material and the parents had the opportunity to ask questions of the teachers so they could feel comfortable about helping their child learn about Maths. Students love to use the Tablets. They think they are just playing games and they are very comfortable using this type of technology. Teachers have different reactions to the tablets depending on their own experiences. The teachers who embraced the introduction actively use the tablets with their students and plan learning experiences using appropriate apps and games. Teachers who are not comfortable or unwilling to learn about the tablets tend to use the Tablets as a “Free time” activity for their fast finishing students.
Using technology has made a huge difference to teaching and learning in my classroom. Personally I use the Interactive Whiteboard for most lessons. It is visual and the children are able to be involved in the lessons as they often show their knowledge when using the board. Tablets, computers and Chromebooks are available for the students to use in lessons.
Technology seems to be heading to smaller more capable devices, mostly with touch screen or hands free functions. We are now able to buy smart watches that are compact and attached to our wrists, large multi-touch screen desks, Smart boards, robots, 3D printing and head mounted displays are already a reality in some classrooms. Fridges, benchtops and walls can now fitted with computers to make life easier. The world is getting smaller with all this technology at our fingertips anywhere and anytime. The future of Educational Technology could only follow these trends. I predict we will see smaller technology that is easier to carry for students that is able to more functions quicker in the future. I also think white/smartboards will be replaced by touchscreen LCD screens capable of detecting multiple touch inputs from many students simultaneously.
Voogt, Knezek, Cox, Knezek, & Brummelhuis (2011) raised a few issues that I think could be researched more like:
Can ICT provide situations where students can learn at their own pace, focus on problem solving and be involved in their assessments?
What other ways can we use infrastructure to address individual student needs?
Is technology making a difference and how can that be measured?
How can we change the teachers’ attitude and competencies using ICT?
Cox (2012) also raised a few issues that I think could be researched more like:
Do children who use ICT at home have an advantage in the classroom?
Extensive teacher training was an issue in the 1980’s, why is it still an issue now?
Are surveys the most effective way to research?
Should research methods change?
Cox, M.J. (2012), Formal to informal learning with IT: research challenges and issues for e-learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00483. Located http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00483.x
Voogt J., Knezek G., Cox M.J., Knezek D.&ten Brummelhuis A. (2011) Under which conditions does ICT have a positive effect on teaching and learning? Acall to action. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 15 November 2011, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00453.x. Located http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00453.x
Hi Laurel, Your thoughts about where we are heading in the future with technology is exciting. I am keen to get my hands on a watch to see how it can be used personally as a communication and fitness tool. The use of interactive whiteboards is a given now in classrooms, I would love to see the tool that allows several students to interact at once on the board perhaps from their had held device. Would certainly help with students with mobility issues.
ReplyDeleteNarelle
Hi Narelle
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of individual hand held devices. The Interactive Whiteboards have a student response device(Activote) that has been around for years, although not used in most schools due to the initial cost. They were originally used to answer multiple choice questions on the whiteboard as a quick and engaging way for the students to be assessed. I am sure you could use them in multiple ways. It would be fun to get some and trial them.