Digital Technologiesin the Classroom

Chapter 4

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Input Devices in the Classroom

Scanners• Convert printed copy or images into a digital

version• With Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

software, scanned text can be saved as a word processing file

• Page scanner scan one page at a time• Flat bed scanners can scan one page or

multiple pages and can scan from a book

Input Devices in the Classroom

Digital Cameras• Do not use film but instead capture images to

a storage media• May vary in resolution – the higher the

resolution the sharper the picture but also the larger the size of the file it creates

• Storage media vary from floppy disk to memory card

Input Devices in the Classroom

Digital Cameras• Stored images are then downloaded to

computer for viewing and editing• Often come with small LCD screens on the

back of the camera to preview images as you take pictures

• Digital photos can be used in any computer software or can be printed on photographic paper to create hard copy photos.

Input Devices in the Classroom

Graphics Tablets• Use a stylus to draw on an electronic pad• Pressure of the stylus on the pad is converted

to images or commands• Allow for greater control and can therefore be

used for creating art work• The digitizer, an graphics tablet adaptation,

lets teachers add notations to a computer image

Input Devices in the Classroom

Sound Input Devices• Personal microphones are a component of

most multimedia computers• Mics plug into the sound card port on the

back of the machine• The mic can be used to add commentary or

record music to enhance a computer presentation or tutorial

Input Devices in the Classroom

Pen Input Devices• Pen input is used with Personal Digital

Assistants (PDAs)• The stylus is pressed against the PDA screen

to record commands or handwritten notes which can be later read as a word processing file

• The PDA can also provide management tools such as calendars and phone books

Input Devices in the Classroom

Touch Screens• Computer monitor screens that are sensitive

to touch• Touch screens are best used to issue

commands and make selections• They can also be a useful assistive device for

students with limited motor skills

Input Devices in the Classroom

Video / Digital Capture• Video capture cards let you stop a video and

capture single still images of each frame as a digital file

• Once digital, the sequence of images can be edited and used in sequence as a digital video or used singly as digital graphics

Input Devices in the Classroom

Electronic Whiteboards• Like traditional whiteboards, dry erase

markers can be used to write or draw on them• Electronic whiteboards can then capture the

writing or drawing and save it as a digital file• Whiteboard files can then be printed or

shared electronically

Output Devices in the Classroom

Data Projection• Data projectors display a room-size image of

the computer screen to a large group• LCD Projection Panel

• Sit on top of an overhead projector and are plugged into the computer

• Uses the overhead projector’s light source for display so they are limited by the quality of the overhead

Output Devices in the Classroom

Data Projection• Data Projector

• Uses LCD technology but has its own light source

• Can be fixed to the ceiling or used as a portable desktop unit

• Can usually display both digital (from computer) and video images (from VCR)

• Usually include speakers and a remote control

Output Devices in the Classroom

Data Projection• Converter

• Takes a digital computer signal and converts it for display on a television

• Very inexpensive compared to other digital display devices

• Resolution may not be as clear since most TV monitors to not have the display capacity of computer monitors

Output Devices in the Classroom

Speakers and Headphones• Small speakers plug into the sound card port

of a computer to play sound associated with software

• Most sound card ports also have a headphone port to accommodate the use of headphones

• To accommodate multiple headphones, a splitter can be purchased a local electronic stores

Emerging Technologies

Wireless Devices• Computers and handhelds can be connected

to a network via wireless technology• Wireless networks eliminate the cost of

retrofitting a school for network cables• Wireless networks improve flexibility by

freeing computers from cables that tether them to walls – computers can be moved to wherever learning is happening

Emerging Technologies

Palmtop Computers• PDAs are fast becoming palm top computers

with scaled-down versions of the same software found on desk top machines

• Newer palmtops are expandable via small expansion cards that can add to their capabilities

• PDAs often come with sound, microphone and color for multimedia programs

Emerging Technologies

E-Books• Electronic books are tablets that display an

electronic multimedia version of a book• A single tablet can store many books which

can be read and/or listened to by using simple navigational controls

• Ebooks can let you take notes as your read• Some PDAs include e-book capability

Emerging Technologies

Voice Activated Devices• Speaking to the computer to input data rather

than typing or clicking is accomplished via voice activation software

• Voice input technology is already widely used as an assistive device

• Voice activation can make computing more flexible by freeing users from proximity to keyboard or mouse

Emerging Technologies

Computer Enhancements• Improved Microprocessors

• Chips are becoming faster and more powerful• More powerful CPUs will make it possible to perform

more complex task faster

• Storage and Memory• RAM chip size is increasing making programs faster to

access• Storage is increasing making it possible to load and run

larger and larger programs• Other storage devices (eg. DVD-Rs) are being developed

to maximize portable storage.

Emerging Technologies

Virtual Environments• Virtual reality software and hardware can be

used to create 3-D environments• VR worlds can be representations of aspects

of the real world or completely imaginary• VR worlds can let students take “virtual

fieldtrips” to places otherwise inaccessible

Computers in the Classroom

• Computer hardware makes it possible to enhance teaching and learning in many ways

• Computer software focuses the hardware on specific tasks appropriate to the classroom

• Teachers should review and evaluate both hardware and software carefully to ensure they have selected the best tools for teaching and learning