Certification - October 2008 - (Page 18)

LOOK AhEAD Technology in the Classroom AGAThA GILMORE With the widespread popularity of the Internet, more and more schools are increasing their online presence while incorporating a digital component into their classes. There’s no doubt about it: Autumn is in the air. The leaves have changed, the air has cooled and before long would-be trick-or-treaters will be debating Halloween costumes. That also means school is in full swing. As kids settled back into the daily grind, I began to think about the ways in which technology has had an impact on the classroom experience in recent years. After all, when I was in school — which, I might add, wasn’t all that long ago — a research paper meant multiple trips to the library, rifling through the stacks without the luxury of Google or Wikipedia. The idea of multimedia in the classroom entailed oral presentations and maybe a language video. Backpacks were heavy with textbooks, notebooks and pencils. Today, it seems teaching and learning have changed. With the widespread popularity of the Internet, more and more schools are increasing their online presence while incorporating a digital component into their classes. According to a Web article by public television station Thirteen/WNET New York, the Net can “greatly increase the communication and collaboration among students and teacher,” as well as provide additional resources and different media through which students can present their ideas. 18 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE October 2008 The article also points out that the Internet has the potential to eradicate any geographical issues, as students can access crucial — and free — information from the comfort of their homes, schools or local libraries, while spending less time in transit and doing research. They also can ask questions outside of school, thanks to e-mail. However, the Internet isn’t the only new technology that has the potential to enhance education. Innovative hardware such as Smart Boards is revolutionizing the classroom experience. The mobile, interactive, multimedia plasma screen has a touch-sensitive display that connects to a computer, allowing teachers to “control computer applications directly from the display, write notes in digital ink and save [their] work to share later,” according to the maker’s Web site. In August, Smart Technologies produced its 1 millionth Smart Board. The Web site goes on to state that students and teachers at Glen Crest Middle School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., have gone wild for the devices. The boards inspired pupils “to become active participants in the learning process,” while teachers “now feel they are able to reach all types of learning styles.” To further explain the benefits, a recent press release for the Smart Board 690 quoted Glen Crest seventhgrade math teacher Brian Stiles as saying: http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART Boards/default.htm http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/classroominternet/index_sub5.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification - October 2008

Certification - October 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Virtual Village Tech Careers Dear Techie Troubleshooting Academic Connection What We Like Look Ahead Elect IT: Technology and the Democratic Process Managing Relationships in the Nonprofit Realm Interface VoIP Technician: Answering the Call of the Network Inside Certification Ad Index Endtag

Certification - October 2008

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