Instructional Technologies Personally Used in the Classroom :
Instructional Technologies Personally Used in the Classroom Standard Whiteboard
Personal Standard Whiteboards
LCD Mounted Projector
Digital Whiteboard
SmartBoard Notebook Software
Personal Digital Tablet
EPAT SOL Practice Testing Software
Fusion
www.studyisland.com
www.wikispaces.com
Digital/CD Rom Textbook
Emerging Technologies (little or no personal experience) :
Emerging Technologies (little or no personal experience) Text to Speech Software
Turns text into a digital audio file that can be reviewed with a personal audio player at a later time
Effective for audio learners
http://icoblog.wordpress.com/category/emerging-technologies/
Thinkfinity.org
Online educational community sharing lessons (digital or non-digital)
TeacherTube.com
Educational alternative to YouTube for teachers to post and share useful instructional, lesson based videos
Online Collaborative Digital Whiteboards
www.Twiddla.com is one example
Allows for students and instructors to work simultaneously
Useful for large class size instruction, multiple small group instruction, or multiple one on one assistance
Online Collaborative Whiteboards :
Online Collaborative Whiteboards Sample Sites:
www.scribblar.com
www.skrbl.com
www.dabbleboard.com
www.twiddla.com
www.imaginationcubed.com
www.scriblink.com
www.writeboard.com
Resource outlining comparisons of the above sites:
http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/04/online-interactive-whiteboards/
Online Collaborative Whiteboards(My Experiences) :
Online Collaborative Whiteboards(My Experiences) After discovering the plethora of various online whiteboard sites, I found that www.twiddla.com was the most useful for potential use in my classroom
I ‘beta’ tested it’s usefulness with a small group of four 7th graders (Algebra Students) who have extensive previous experiences with technological tools in general
I was able to show them on a semi-individual basis a mathematical process through the site
It’s a free site, not requiring any login or personal information
I was using a Windows based PC, they were using older Ibooks, and there was no incompatibility issues.
I will use this site, or something better if found, this coming school year as well to provide more one on one instructional assistance
Instructional Technologies:Personal Perspectives :
Instructional Technologies:Personal Perspectives Technology should be implemented in the classroom
Technology must be 2nd to Instructional Design; i.e. the technology should support the learning objectives not the other way around
There will always be emerging technology
Students need to develop the skills for how to adapt to emerging technology so they can be better prepared for the technology they will see in the work place that has not been invented yet
Teachers need to embrace technology in a positive manner
Leads to greater student buy in with todays digital generation
Can be greatly more efficient for the instructional environment in both the long and short term
The more teachers use technology effectively the more efficient the technology will be for them
There are more current and emerging technologies that can ever be totally catalogued and identified, especially at the current rates of instructional technological growth
There is a growing career opportunity for those individuals who can sift through the vast oceans of information to find the right technology for the right teacher/student/classroom/instructional objective environment combination