Emerging Technologies in the Education World

Vickie Callaway

What technologies are shaping the elementary classroom?

iPad

Interactive Whiteboards

Podcasting

Apple iPad – The Possibilities

Introduced in January 2010, this small tablet has set out to change the landscape of education. There are many ways in which the iPad can be used in the classroom. The benefits are many, for both the student and the school district.

Benefits for students

Updated information – no more outdated textbooks; E-textbooks.

Up to the minute information for research.

Multimedia and news stories for each lesson.

Benefits for students

Mobility – no more heavy books to lug around.

Social interaction while learning – especially for distance learners.

With addition of apps like Blackboard, keeping in contact with the teacher, and having schedules at hand are useful.

Benefits for the teacher

iPad doesn’t offer the opportunity to multitask, allowing students to focus on the task at hand.

Teacher designed applications and programs to offer customized lessons for students.

Benefits for the school district

Budget friendly – costs less than a laptop. More students can get access to digital

learning tools and new technology. Less expensive than purchasing textbooks for

students K-12.

Interactive Whiteboards

•Interactive whiteboards are not new but are gaining popularity in the elementary classroom.

•There are several well known manufacturers of interactive whiteboards, with Smart and Promethean being the front runners.

•Additionally, companies such as Mimio make portable devices that make any standard whiteboard into an interactive whiteboard

Benefits of the Interactive Whiteboard

Learning is interactive. Makes classroom participation fun for the

students – students are excited to demonstrate their knowledge.

Uses visuals to enhance lessons. Appeals to different learning styles. Note-taking abilities and ability to save

lessons.

Podcasting

A podcast is a series of audio or video on the web that can be cataloged and automatically downloaded.

Podcasts have many educational benefits.

Benefits of podcasting

Students can create a product and share globally.

Students have a real world audience to share their work with.

You don’t need an iPod or handheld to participate in podcasting…you can enjoy from your web browser.

Podcasting promotes reading, writing, speaking, and listening literacy.

Bibliography

Meissner, R. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=1228

Milligan, L. (2010, June 21). Retrieved from http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2010/06/21/10-ways-the-ipad-will-forever-change-education/

Learning in hand http://learninginhand.com/podcasting