Promoting success through technology is as important in today’s classroom as the instructor is. Technology is everywhere, and it is important that students learn how to use technology tools, not just for leisure interaction, but with the ability to learn how to apply technology used in the classroom on their future projects or even further into their future: in their career.
Because of this, it is important for the instructor to use available resources available wisely. This means that all classrooms should not be without at least a couple, if not several, technology tools. These are three of the many I value from Chapter 10…
The first valuable tool from this reading is Online Translation Services. This can come in many forms, but the most popular is Google Translate. As of March 2016, Google Translate supports 103 languages at various levels and serves over 200 million people daily (Google Translate, n.d). Not only does Google Translate reach millions, but is considered to be “more fluid and natural” sounding than competitive online translators (Maloy, 2013).
The application for Google Translate in the classroom is extremely valuable. If there is a student that is learning English as a second language, he or she may struggle with new words that are being introduced through classroom instruction or fellow classmate interaction. Instead of the student not being able to learn the new word, Google Translate allows for immediate familiarity. The teacher would pull up the Google Translate interface (that is available on all wireless or connected devices in some form) and type in the word. The student can then hear it in his language and repeat the word. For an added familiarity, I would request the student use the word again sometime that day in conversation.
Google Translate is extremely effective- and can also translate written words in real time. The technology growth in this program alone is magnificent. Here is a YouTube video that shows real-time translation of the Spanish song, “La Bamba”. This will demonstrate how successful and flawlessly this technology can be used in the classroom:
The second technology concept that I favored from our reading was the use of online surveys in the classroom. This has been a tool online for many years. I, personally, remember doing online surveys ten years ago along the lines of “What personality are you?!” or “Which Twilight character are you supposed to marry?!??!”, which would then be posted to an online social media dinosaur, MySpace. Our text pointed out that this online survey concept has come a long way, and it is now a great tool to use in the classroom.
The text focused on using online surveys as pre-assessments for prior knowledge. Although this is one great application, I think online surveys could also be an excellent tool for engaging some students. Not all students have interpersonal skills and enjoy vocalizing in front of others. An online assessment tool will give those shy students a bigger opportunity to provide feedback or engage in answering when they otherwise would have remained silent.
Click here for a brief survey created by Kahoot that displays an interactive technology assessment tool that could easily be integrated into the classroom:
Click here for a brief survey created by Kahoot that displays an interactive technology assessment tool that could easily be integrated into the classroom:
(Kahoot screen shot by Amanda Sweeney)
Finally, I was very much impressed by the Interactive whiteboards shown both in our text and in our module this week. I have seen them in classrooms a couple of times but have never interacted with them. I couldn’t believe how versatile they were! Not only can they mirror a computer screen for step by step instructions, they can also be considered a projector as they have a camera mounted to the top of a podium, and they are also so interactive that children can walk up to a display of text and highlight, erase or modify what is on the screen! I am so amazed not only at this technology but also the value that the School Board of Lee County has put in them. The school that I recently shadowed in had one in each classroom, fully equipped to do all of what I have listed and more. This tool is definitely a must in today’s classroom. Here is a digital tool called Padlet that is an interactive online board that I created about interactive whiteboards. Enjoy!
<iframe src='//padlet.com/embed/3smh86ai087g' frameborder='0' width='100%' height='480px' style='padding:0;margin:0;border:none'></iframe><div style='border-top:2px solid #a7d23a;padding:8px;margin:0;font-size:12px;text-align:right'><a href='http://padlet.com' style='color:#41555f;text-decoration:none'>Created with Padlet<img valign='middle' style='margin:0 0 0 10px;padding:0;border:none;width:16px;height:16px' src='http://padlet.com/favicon.ico'></a></div>
<iframe src='//padlet.com/embed/3smh86ai087g' frameborder='0' width='100%' height='480px' style='padding:0;margin:0;border:none'></iframe><div style='border-top:2px solid #a7d23a;padding:8px;margin:0;font-size:12px;text-align:right'><a href='http://padlet.com' style='color:#41555f;text-decoration:none'>Created with Padlet<img valign='middle' style='margin:0 0 0 10px;padding:0;border:none;width:16px;height:16px' src='http://padlet.com/favicon.ico'></a></div>
Interactive Whiteboard Padlet
Resources:
Resources:
Google Translate. (n.d.). Retrieved March 06, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Translate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Translate
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Sweeney, A. M. (2016, March 06). Are you enjoying this blog? Retrieved March 06, 2016, from https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/1ae39ed0-6b93-4346-8be4-3a0d8aeebd63
Sweeney, A. M. (2016, March 06). Interactive Whiteboards. Retrieved March 06, 2016, from http://padlet.com/wall/3smh86ai087g
