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Technology plays a great role in our society.  The use of cell phones and laptops

 are standard technology equipment for students.  What are some new and

innovative ways that technology is being used in todays classrooms? 

Check out Classroom 2.0 at www.classroom20.com.  Look through the forum for TONS of ways teachers are using technology in the classroom at all levels. 

Not necessarily new, but new to me, is the ACTIVboard. My students and I just love it! It is along the lines of the SmartBoard, but I feel it has more capabilities. I saw both of them in action at a technology conference I attended in Austin and the ACTIVboard was by far my favorite. Then, I was able to write a Service-Learning grant and we received a board as part of the grant. Last year was our first year to use the board. It helped make my lessons more interactive, the kids were excited about it, and I even had them designing their own flipchart presentations to show on the board (math games and science food chains), but that didn't happen because some of our district tech people came in and erased the program while trying to rework the computers for something else. Anyway, the board has been great.

I have also completed "23 Things", which is an online training that is similar to Learning 2.0, and have shared that site with everyone via my blog, Ms. P.'s Place, and am highlighting specific ones that I think people will be able to use immediately, either with their kids or to help themselves to become more organized.

I would love to hear about any other suggestions you have. I am trying to also find a technology grant that would help me get laptops for my class. Any ideas?

Hi,
I am a junior in college majoring in Elementary Education. I am currently taking a course entitled "Using Technology in the Classroom" and am interested to hear more about the ACTIVboard. I have heard of and seen the SMARTboard in use, but I am not familiar with this one. Can you tell me what other kinds of applications the ACTIVboard involves? I am hoping to teach Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade upon graduating and I have found it difficult to consider ways of integrating technology use with such young students. Any advice you can offer me would be great!
Thank you so much.
J. Zigler

I also have an ACTIVboard in my classroom. I went from teachng first grade using an overhead to teaching fourth grade using the ACTIVboard. It was quite a change to say the least. Three years ago I was barely using the ACTIVboard. Now, it is quite difficult to get through the day without it. My students also love to use it.

Technology can make your teaching life easier, although that is debatable. It makes
grades and record keeping simple. Plus, you can find teaching resources online without
needing a stack of books and filing cabinets.

However, never let technology get in the way or replace good teaching. Good teaching
has stood the test of time. Fight the urge to use all the bells and whistles.

Remember, people like Edison and Ford learned in school rooms that were quite
sparse. We ushered in the computer and space age by using zero technology because
we made students learn. Don't forget that. Teachers and the Internet

Stephen C

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http://teachersindex.com

    I'm a Physical Education teacher and I often find it difficult to incorporate technology into my lessons, but some of the ways that I do use technology are by using LCD projectors to show videos played on my computer, and by using FLIP cameras to record some of my older students movement abilities so that my younger students can replicate their movements.  I'm always in search of new ideas so if you can think of anything that might be helpful in my classroom please let me know!

David