Technology Tools: examples for an Elementary classroom

Hardware Software

- Digital camera - PicMonkey

- Smart Board - SurveyMonkey

- Tablet/iPad - BrainPOP Jr.

- Desktop P.C. - Wikipedia

- Web Camera - San Diego Zoo web site

Technology Tools: Digital camera

Looks like:

Does: takes and stores photographs.

Good for: taking pictures to add to projects,

presentations, classroom displays, and to share online.

Not so good for: small fingers, full-class use.

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Use a digital camera to take pictures of model zoo habitats that students make after research on the San Diego Zoo web site;

Use PicMonkey to crop and edit the pictures;

Share the finished pictures in a simple slideshow on the class Smart Board.

Technology Tools: Digital camera

Technology Tools: Smart Board

Looks like:

Does: displays software, presentations, videos, etc.

Good for: presenting videos, passages for reading,

sample work, web content.

Not so good for: expensive, requires reliable network.

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Small groups use the Smart Board to present zoo habitat projects, toggling between multiple displays;

Show pictures of their designs, taken with a digital camera, and edited with PicMonkey;

Compare and contrast their designs with pictures from the San Diego Zoo web site.

Technology Tools: Smart Board

Technology Tools: Tablet/iPad

Looks like:

Does: most of the functions of a laptop or dekstop computer, touch-screen manipulation.

Good for: video, audio; portable, flexible.

Not so good for: typing; whole class use (expense)

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students use the tablet/iPad to explore the animal habitats and conservation lessons on BrainPOP Jr.;

Students use the activities and quizzes to prepare for a SurveyMonkey quiz created by the teacher.

Technology Tools: Tablet/iPad

Technology Tools: Desktop/laptop

Looks like:

Does: all common computing and media functions.

Good for: desktop publishing; educational software;

research.

Not so good for: portability (desktop); whole-class use (resource dependent).

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students use a desktop/laptop to research their chosen animal's natural habitat using Wikipedia;

Students compile their research from internet sources and pictures from the digital camera into a desktop publishing package (e.g. Microsoft Word)

Technology Tools: Desktop/laptop

Technology Tools: Printer

Looks like:

Does: produces hard copies of documents, pictures.

Good for: printing finished work for display, portfolios.

Not so good for: conservation of paper, cost of ink.

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students use a printer to make a classroom display about their animal habitat designs;

Students print their BrainPOP Jr. quiz results, PicMonkey images, and their written research to add to their portfolio.

Technology Tools: printer

Technology Tools: BrainPOP Jr.

Looks like:

Does: instructional videos, activities, and quizzes on a range of subjects for K-third grades.

Good for: reinforcement of instruction; visually

pleasing; easy-to-use.

Not so good for: in-depth learning; student variability.

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students explore the BrainPOP Jr. material on Habitats and Conservation using a tablet/iPad or desktop/laptop;

Students use the activities and quizzes to prepare for a teacher-designed SurveyMonkey quiz on habitats.

Technology Tools: BrainPOP Jr.

Technology Tools: SurveyMonkey

Looks like:

Does: creates surveys with a range of question types and answer formats.

Good for: anonymous or tracked surveys/feedback;

creating student quizzes.

Not so good for: student development of surveys.

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students take SurveyMonkey quiz on animal habitats;

Students explore the instructional content on animal habitats on BrainPOP Jr. to prepare for the quiz.

Technology Tools: SurveyMonkey

Technology Tools: PicMonkey

Looks like:

Does: basic image editing and manipulation; add text, overlays, borders, etc.

Good for: simple image enhancements; create appealing

graphics; user-friendly.

Not so good for: high-resolution images; subscription-only features.

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students import their digital camera habitat pictures into PicMonkey;

Their saved PicMonkey creations are presented to the class using the Smart Board.

Technology Tools: PicMonkey

Technology Tools: Wikipedia

Looks like:

Does: online encyclopedia.

Good for: topic introductions; links to other sources.

Not so good for: cultivating scholarly habits; credibility (sometimes)

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students use Wikipedia to research the natural habitats of their chosen animals; they pursue web links to other cited sources;

They use their web research and PicMonkey images to present to the class using the Smart Board.

Technology Tools: Wikipedia

Technology Tools: San Diego Zoo web site

Looks like:

Does: information about animals, conservation issues; features live web cams of exhibits.

Good for: topic introductions; interactive games; Panda

Cam; virtual field trips.

Not so good for: limited web cams (for this example project)

Project idea: Animal conservation project

Students use the San Diego Zoo web site to learn about their chosen animal and view its zoo habitat via web cam;

Students use this information when designing their habitats, before using the other tools (digital camera, PicMonkey, Smart Board, printer) to present their work and produce their portfolios.

Technology Tools: San Diego Zoo web site

Technology ToolsPicture references (shown in order presented)

Digital camera:http://pics.hellodaly.com/uploaded_images/casio_exilim_S600_frontandback-793990.jpg Smart Board:http://www.smartboardsreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Smart-Board-680-Product-Page.pngTablet:https://www.qualcomm.com/sites/default/files/uploads/dell-xps-10-tablet.pngLaptop:http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/34-258-271-TS?$S300$Printerhttp://icons.iconarchive.com/icons/artua/dragon-soft/512/Printer-icon.pngBrainPOP Jr.:Screen grab from http://www.brainpopjr.com/scienceSurveyMonkey:Screen grab from http://www.surveymonkey.comPicMonkey:Screen grab from http://www.picmonkey.comWikipedia:Screen grab from: http://www.wikipedia.orgSan Diego Zoo web site:Screen grab from: http://kids.sandiegozoo.org