Photo Learning

Photo from Flickr by laihiu

I know in my school experience, if digital cameras were used for a project, the students had to provide their own cameras. However, with the decrease in cost and size and increase in ease of use, digital cameras can be a useful tool in the classroom. Whether students are taking photos to work on their artistic skills, using the taken photos for learning in another subject, or documenting special events in the classroom, digital cameras can benefit students of all grade levels. As we discussed in class, teachers must expect students to damage some cameras, but the possibility of new instructional activities and increased modes of teaching outweighs this disadvantage. Visit this site to learn more about ways to incorporate digital photography into the classroom: Smile! Digital Cameras Can Make Your Day. I particularly like the idea of taking and displaying photos of important rooms within the school. For a kindergarten class or other class where students are new to the school, having this visual can help put students more at ease if they need to find these rooms. For example, if the teacher sends a student to the library to make a copy of a worksheet, it would help the student to have directions and an image of the outside of the library.

Home Library

'Checking out' library books from home enables students to use books for research without having to physically go to the library. This is convenient for students who do not have transportation or who forget they need to get books from the library until after it has closed. Surprisingly, providing this service does not cost the school district any additional fees. Thus, I think it would be useful and feasible for other school districts to follow suit and set up their own electronic library systems. While I do not want the use of physical libraries to disappear, having an electronic resource as a backup provides several benefits.

Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic, and Robots?

What do you think about having robots in the classroom? Does it sound futuristic and crazy? While it may sound like something from The Jetsons, robots are entering classrooms across the world. Don’t worry; these robots are not replacing teachers. Instead, students are creating robots, which helps them learn about math, physics, engineering, and more. Although the complexity of the designed robots must vary based on the age of the students, even elementary students are participating in robotics competitions, so teachers can incorporate robots into any grade level’s curriculum. I think using robots is a great way to get students interested in math and programming because kids tend to think of robots as toys, so the real-world activity feels like a game rather than work. Watch the video below to see a few examples of robots created by fourth grade students. These impressive accomplishments show what the combination of student interest and knowledge can produce.

Above image of robot from Flickr by eirikref. (Click on image to go to original page)

Get SMART

I had never heard of interactive whiteboards before, but they sound very useful. These boards combine a traditional chalkboard with computer projection technology. Information on the whiteboard can be viewed and modified with the touch of a finger. Thus, the tool reminds me of a giant touch screen computer. The whiteboards seem to improve the engagement level from all students in the class because students can easily move images, write words, and more. With only the projection of a computer screen onto a board, students generally have to tell the teacher what to do, and the teacher then actually makes the changes on a computer. I am unsure how much these boards cost, but I believe schools could greatly benefit from having these interactive whiteboards. To find out how a school district in Chicago makes use of the SMART board, go to this site: SMART Technologies Case Study. Also, check out the video below, which shows one of these whiteboards being used for instruction.