Digital Technologies in the Classroom

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Digital Technologies in the Classroom

• Developed by
• Rhonda Christensen
• University of North Texas

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Digital Gadgets or Personal Educational Tools
(PETs)?

• Digital Cameras
• Pedometers
• GPS
• Data loggers
• E-book readers
• MP3 player

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Scanners - convert printed material or images
  into digital format
• Kids can scan images from books or other printed
  sources to include in multimedia presentations
• Original artwork by students can be put into a
  digital format to be shared (posted on the web or
  in a multimedia project.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Digital Cameras store images digitally rather
  than on film.
• Digital Cameras are becoming ubiquitous therefore
  less expensive.
• There are 1000s of uses in education.
• Great for visual learners - visual literacy.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Graphics Tablets - Uses a stylus to write on an
  electronic pad
• Art students can hand draw into a digital format
  that can then be manipulated, enhanced, etc.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Tablet PCs - Convert handwriting into word
  processing drawings become graphics files

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Electronic Whiteboards
• are becoming more common in schools.
• They allow students to be interactive while
  learning.
• Information written on the electronic board can
  be saved and retrieved/shared.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Data Projectors allow teachers to project images
  from a computer or video source.
• The improved lamps allow the lights to remain on!

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Wireless Devices allow computers and handhelds to
  be on a network without wires.
• Wireless networks allow flexibility and mobility.
  
• Schools can avoid wired infrastructure.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Handheld Computers are portable and powerful!

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http//www.k12handhelds.com
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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• E-books are digital books that can be read on
  handheld computers. You can take notes on books
  as you read.
• The Gutenberg Project has free books to download
  to your e-book reader.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• MP3 Players
• A is for Apple on iPod - Carrollton Farmers
  Branch ISD is giving out iPods to Kindergarten
  students for language development
• French teachers are using them for foreign
  language practice.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Data loggers allow students to track information
  via a small instrument.
• Many types of data loggers exist.
• Temperature, wind speed, air pressure, humidity,
  barometric pressure, AC current, carbon monoxide,
  carbon dioxide, light intensity, rainfall, soil
  moisture, motion, pulse count and more.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Pedometers are a type of data logger.
• Students can log their activity individually
  and/or as a group.
• PE Central allows students to log their steps.

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Digital Technologies to Support Teaching and
Learning

• Global Positioning Systems (GPS) - common in
  cars, boats and cell phones -24 satellites
  continuously broadcast position and time data to
  users throughout the world!
• Free to the world developed by the Dept. or
  Defense
• Students can use them to determine locations -
  Locations are shown in longitude and latitude
• Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunt.

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How Do We Have So Much Power in the Palm of Our
Hands?

• Chips are becoming faster and more powerful AND
  smaller!

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Emerging Digital Tools

• Virtual Environments create 3-D environments that
  simulate reality.
• Virtual Reality can take students on virtual
  trips to places they may never visit otherwise.
• Virtual Frog Dissection may be possible when real
  dissection is not.
• Virtual Field Trips and Labs are abundant on the
  Internet.

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How Can You Use These Tools in Your Classroom?

• Get into groups of 2 - 3.
• Select a digital technology.
• Determine how you could use this tool to enhance
  learning in the classroom.
• Give the subject area, the topic area and the
  learning objective.
• Be prepared to share your great ideas with the
  class!