| Classroom technology has come a long way from | | | | 3. Classroom technology can be used to bridge |
| the old days of slates and inkwells. And along with | | | | the gap between school and home. Emails to |
| embracing modern technology, teachers have to | | | | parents as a back-up to paper notes is an obvious |
| start thinking about new ways of "doing school". | | | | form of communication. But it can go further. If a |
| One teacher from Alabama, Suzanne Freeman, is | | | | student has looked at a website at school, he or |
| leading the way with some concepts she outlined | | | | she can visit it again at home, and show his/her |
| in an interview with Time magazine in 2007. | | | | parents so they can talk about the issues and |
| This concept is sometimes referred to as "School | | | | subjects with them. And projects and |
| 2.0". If you don't get the reference, it's time to | | | | presentations can be displayed for other relatives |
| upskill slightly in your knowledge of classroom | | | | to see - a student can send a link to the class |
| technology, as it's a reference to "Web 2.0", which | | | | website with the great photos of school sports |
| is the new way of using the internet - using the | | | | day to Uncle George who's working in Hong Kong |
| internet as a place to share information and write | | | | (and as a bonus, Uncle George can post photos |
| things, rather than just a place to look up | | | | and descriptions of life in Hong Kong that can be |
| information that has been created by experts and | | | | used for a study on Hong Kong). |
| professionals. | | | | Many teachers and parents are a little afraid of |
| One of the key ideas of the "School 2.0" concept | | | | the Internet. If you are unfamiliar with its unique |
| is the idea of integrating classroom technology | | | | terminology and non-intuitive interfaces, like me, |
| properly and the reasons why this should be done. | | | | which are constantly changing, it's hard to get a |
| 1. Classroom technology engages students. Most | | | | workable knowledge and ways to use it properly. |
| students like using technology and find it fun to | | | | For teachers, it's important to visit education sites |
| interact with, and this applies to everything from | | | | for information and referrals and also to check |
| videos through to use of the internet for | | | | into your school district's professional development |
| research. Let's face it: would you rather present | | | | or IT training opportunities. Many companies that |
| your project as a poster with a few photocopied | | | | are selling hardware and network technology to |
| pictures stuck on with glue and accompanied by | | | | our school districts want you to use it and they |
| scratchy handwriting, or would you rather give a | | | | provide training and customer support. |
| Powerpoint presentation where you can add in | | | | Internet research needs extra time to learn and |
| sounds, animations and writing that changes | | | | to learn how to teach your students to use it. |
| colour? Would you rather learn times tables by | | | | And the Internet is a great way to learn it! Finding |
| reciting them or by playing a game where you | | | | teacher forums and blogs that address your |
| have to zap monsters marked with, say, "4 x 6" | | | | issues can help you find answers to questions |
| by shooting the answer "24" at them? | | | | quickly. Educational resource companies and |
| 2. Computers are part of everyday life. We are | | | | educational websites also have a lot of free |
| no longer in the 1980s where computers were | | | | information on how to use content and how to |
| boring black and white screens with dot-matrix | | | | find content. There are also a lot more internet |
| printers. And computers are no longer a novelty. | | | | articles and discussions on best practices for new |
| Your students are now of the generation where | | | | technologies and are worth reading just to get |
| computers are part of everyday life. Your | | | | new perspectives on the many and fast changes |
| students are used to playing on playstations (and | | | | educators and teachers are having to make. |
| the like) and seeing computer technology used for | | | | Teachers! You don't have enough time in the day |
| everything from parking meters to displaying | | | | to teach all you need to, so use the tools you |
| songs and sermon notes at church. | | | | have to make your lessons more effective. |