Based on the information in chapter 6, I would prefer to teach in a classroom that has more digital technologies. Wireless devices and technologies such as e-books, PDA’s, and WiFi make organization easier and provide students and teachers with more mobility throughout the classroom. Computers and information are also made more readily available outside the classroom for research and communication. Devices such as microphones and headphones are also very useful technologies. Headphones make it easier for students to work alone and listen to things without disrupting others, and microphones let the teacher record her lessons for future reference or make her voice louder so students can hear. I also think storage devices such as digital cameras and USB flash drives make teaching easier and more fun. Photos create the opportunities to document student presentations, field trips, make collages, and remember special events. UBS drives make it easier for teachers to transport large amounts of data quickly, and students can save useful information and take digital projects home to finish them or show their parents. Classroom with more digital technologies clearly make teaching and learning more convenient, fun, and creative.
Chapter 11:
There are many uses for traditional and emerging audiovisual technologies in the classroom. One traditional example of an audio technology is the Talking Book. It can be used in the classroom by telling stories while the kids act them out. This gives students the chance to participate in class and realize how fun books can be. An emerging example of audio technology is Internet Radio. This could be incorporated in the classroom by letting students use it to learn about current events in foreign countries. Each student could choose a country to do their project on and could listen to the radio on the internet as a resource. It’s a great way to expand kids’ cultural horizons and learn new things. A traditional visual technology is the bulletin board. Bulletin boards are great tools to have because they provide a space to show-off student art and good grades. They can also be used to teach months of the year. Each month of school, the students can decorate the board to demonstrate the weather, events, and holidays of that month. The digital video camera is a good example of emerging visual technology. A creative way to use this device in the classroom is by assigning students to make how-to videos. Students can show their classmates step-by-step instructions how to do something new.
