The term “technological innovation” is a somewhat relative term. At one point in history the wheel was a completely revolutionary piece of technology, but these days any four year old will have a pretty firm grasp on the basic concepts of the wheel. Thirty years ago the idea of using a computer in the classroom would have seemed farfetched at best but even now many teachers are pushing to get each of their students individual laptops. Technology is ever changing and technology trends in the classrooms have come to resemble fads.
The most recent of these fads is the I-Fad in which apple devices and software such as the I-Pad, I-Phone and I-Touch are becoming more and more popular by demand. This trend stems from the overwhelming popularity of these devices outside the classroom, and rather than fighting the massive tide of I-Devices many educators are seeking to implement the use of these devices into the classroom and Apple is more than happy to oblige by developing and featuring applications that cater specifically to learning. “I-Pad isn’t just the best device of its kind – it’s a whole new kind of device. And it’s poised to change the learning landscape (Apple, 2011).” Instructors like Amy Todd use I-Pad educational applications to, “make it easier to differentiate instruction for students, selecting sets of apps that would be beneficial to their individual learning styles, wants, & needs (Todd, 2011).”
The use of online websites can also play a role in helping to differentiate lessons. While some websites and applications like Google Earth can help bring subjects like geography to life for students, others can address the needs of special needs and extended learners alike. In my own host classroom we have a student who is a very high achiever in math and is way beyond everything we are covering in math so far. So to differentiate my host teacher has set this student up on an online math program that teaches and challenges her in more advanced mathematical subjects like division while the main group instruction focuses on addition and basic number patterns.
Another technological innovation that has found its way into the classroom is the use of cameras. Document cameras, video cameras, digital cameras, there seems to be a camera for every occasion. While cameras may not necessarily be a new piece of technology, we are seeing more and more of them in classroom activities. In the digital age it has become much easier to upload, edit, and use pictures in a variety of ways. Deborah Duncan teaches at Neshoba Central High School in Philadelphia lists a variety of ways she’s seen digital cameras used in her school. These ideas range from miniature year books, to journalism projects, to special education differentiations in which students are able to create books or picture sequences to show their thought processes. I remember reading a story a few weeks back about a camera being developed which has no focal point when it takes a picture. This may not seem like that big of a breakthrough, but this is something I’m going to be looking forward to both in my personal life and for its incorporation into classroom activities.
Technology is everywhere and even more abundant than the tech is new and inspiring ideas on how to use it in an educational environment. As technology moves away from traditional computers and towards tablets, more ideas will surface about how to use these as educational tools. Cameras have been around for ages, but new innovations and ideas are always surfacing on how to use these tools to help students express themselves and enhance their learning. And as always the internet remains a vast, ever-expanding sea of knowledge waiting to be tapped into. The opportunities to use tech are growing by the day and we should do our best as educators to take advantage of these marvelous opportunities.
Resources:
Todd, Amy. 2011. Retrieved from: http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-apps
Apple. 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/
