Calculators In Today's Classroom

CALCULATOR: a mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device that performs arithmetic operations automatically.

Since the first hand-held electronic calculator appeared on the market nearly 30 years ago, individuals and special interest groups have voiced extremely strong opinion, both pro and con, regarding the use of calculators in the classroom. And the debate continues today. David Gelernter, professor of computer science at Yale University, believes calculators should be totally eliminated from the classroom. He feels that allowing children to use calculators produces adults who can't do basic arithmetic, doomed to wander through life in a numeric haze. In 1997, California legislation would prohibit the use of calculators in schools prior to the sixth grade. Whereas, the state of Virginia purchased 200,000 graphing calculators to be used by all middle school and high school math students.

Powerpoint

Powerpoint is a great tool for teachers to use. It helps keep the children attentive, it provides pictures to help remember facts and dates, and its so much more fun than a chalkboard!

What's going on? PowerPoint is a high-powered software tool used for presenting information in a dynamic slide show format. Text, charts, graphs, sound effects and video are just some of the elements PowerPoint can incorporate into your presentations with ease. Whether it's a classroom lesson, a parents' group meeting, a teachers' seminar or an unattended kiosk at the Science Fair - PowerPoint shows you how to make a powerful impression on your audience. This fun, eight-unit tutorial shows K-12 teachers how to use PowerPoint to present many different forms of information. You'll learn the basics on using PowerPoint's toolbars, laying out your information, saving, moving your information to the place you'll be presenting it - and much more. This tutorial is provided free of charge by ACT360 Media Ltd. If you are using this material for classroom use and would like to support future updates, please make a $1 donation by clicking the link below. Meet your hosts… Join our wacky tutorial hosts Sue Special and Jim Jingle as they take you on a talk show tour of PowerPoint's unique features and abilities. Just to tweak your memory, the tutorial includes a quiz question at the end of each new section. You'll also get a kick out of the Cool For School page, which gives you extra tips and tricks for using PowerPoint in the classroom. What do you think? If you have anything to say about the tutorial, or if you'd like to share your own ideas about using PowerPoint, please visit our blog. We really appreciate any comments and suggestions you have to offer. Wait! There's more... Can we make this tutorial even better and easier to use? Believe it or not, we can! So check back often as we add these exciting new features. Tutorials in Print Send a copy of this online tutorial to your printer with just a couple of clicks. Here's how...

http://www.actden.com/PP/guide.htm

Blogs About Lesson Plans Using Technology

Friday, January 09, 2009

Technology lesson planning 101

On the excellent Doug Johnson Blue Skunk Blog, there are two recent articles well worth reading: one is Seven brilliant things teachers do with technology, in which I particularly like the idea that we should "use technology's engagement (not entertainment) power" [>> more].

The second is Seven stupid mistakes teachers make with technology, "stupid" being a word he uses with some reservation.

I've got the same reservations myself about "stupid". "Can I ask a stupid question?" people sometimes ask me in technology seminars, meaning a question that might seem stupid to experts, an idea that embarrasses the questioner. But the question never turns out to be stupid: "basic" is perhaps the word being sought.

As regards using technology, let's call it "silly", shall we? To my mind, the silliest mistake you can make as a teacher is not having a Plan B in case the technology goes wrong, as at some point it inevitably will.

"Silly" is a word I hear teachers use: they say, for example, "you just look silly in front of all your students when there's no Internet connection".

But that's the great thing about having a "Plan B": if you do, you won't look silly, on the contrary, you'll look slickly professional, which as a learner is how I like my teacher to look...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/eltblog/blog/uploaded_images/tecnologia-780918-769329-743771.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/eltblog/blog/labels/Using%2520technology.html&usg=__lf6S8PfJHHFZ1n_RB82vttHfpTM=&h=300&w=400&sz=28&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=SaucwMzjPm4m5M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtechnology%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bclassroom%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B2RNFA_en___US204%26um%3D1

Lesson Plans Using Technology

Task #3: A photograph of learning actually occurring

Follow the steps and the task isn't as impossible as it might look...


It is easy -- from the technical point of view. All you your learners have to do is point the camera and shoot, and then share it in some digital way (eg. on a blog, or as a PowerPoint presentation, as I suggested).

It is however more of a challenge. Can you actually photograph the actual instant learning occurs, and actually capture it on film? I've been trying for years and never really ever got close to it.

What your learners should aim for is a photograph in which they can then say "What we were trying to capture was...". The end-product is less important than the meaningful interaction that precedes it -- though it is also true that working towards producing an end-product makes that interaction meaningful.

And, as I suggested, discussing the subject of when learning takes place first, before taking out the camera, will make it slightly less of a challenge, as well as creating the opportunity for the interaction to occur.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/eltblog/blog/uploaded_images/tecnologia-780918-769329-743771.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/eltblog/blog/labels/Using%2520technology.html&usg=__lf6S8PfJHHFZ1n_RB82vttHfpTM=&h=300&w=400&sz=28&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=SaucwMzjPm4m5M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtechnology%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bclassroom%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B2RNFA_en___US204%26um%3D1

Voice recognition Software

Today, schools offer technologies that were unheard of twenty years ago. The typewriter is being replaced by voice recognition software, and the traditional classroom is now competing with two-way online distance learning classes. However, rather than try to describe the impact of technology as a whole, schools need to understand the purpose and usefulness of them.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/309346/using_technology_in_todays_classroom_pg2.html?cat=4

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bigpicture.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/21/ilisten.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2007/08/voice-recogniti.html&usg=__bkjT2Scklv_isLbAtbttQa-ETZ8=&h=280&w=280&sz=17&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=whvi9O7QNCT7GM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvoice%2Brecognition%2Bsoftware%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B2RNFA_en___US204%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Computers In the Classroom Today

Positive outcomes of computers in today's classrooms.

1. 1. Children can use the program without asking for help


2. 2. Children control the software's path and pace


3. 3. The program provides opportunities for children to explore a variety of concepts on several levels.


4. 4. Children receive quick feedback.


5. 5. The program appeals to children's multisensory learning style by taking advantage of the capabilities offered by today's computers.


6. The software is enjoyable - it encourages children to laugh and to use their imagination to explore.


7. Children experience success and feel empowered by learning

The SMARTBOARD

What are Smartboards?SMARTBoard are interactive whiteboard that helps energize presentations and motivate learners. In 1991, it was the world's first interactive whiteboard. Today, it is the world's leading interactive whiteboard. Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board interactive whiteboard engages students and audiences around the world.How does it work?The touch-sensitive display connects to your computer and digital projector to show your computer image. You can then control computer applications directly from the display, write notes in digital ink and save your work to share later.Best of all, the full-featured SMART Board interactive whiteboard is incredibly easy to use. If you can use a computer, you can use a SMART Board interactive whiteboard.