Teaching Tools on Your Time > What's Hot in Ed-Tech?

About These Pages

We created this new section to assess where to go next with the Teaching Tools on Your Time program. These pages provide a brief overview of the educational technology landscape in order for the faculty and staff of NCS to provide feedback about where the Teaching Tools training series should go.

On this page we talk about General Themes that are currently a part of educational technology, as well as new Hardware and Devices that are changing what can be done in the classroom.

To clearly assess the current landscape of best practices and educational technology theories, we thought it would be helpful to focus on the ways technology is brought into the curriculum of specific departments. On each of the department pages, we focus on possible units and tools.

On each of these pages, we have create a department-specific 6-question survey. Our hope is that after learning about the current landscape of educational technology, NCS faculty and staff will be more informed as to specific ways to introduce new technology in the classroom.

After looking at this site, please take the time to fill out the survey for your department so we can better serve you!

General Themes

While many teachers are using technology in specific ways according to their teaching discipline, there are some overarching themes regarding educational technology we wanted to touch upon here.

Implementing technology based on pedagogy

The important factor that all educators, including technology specialists, argue for is never implementing technology just for technology's sake. There always must be a pedagogical reason to use a specific software or cool new device.

This doesn't mean that risks should not be taken when developing innovative lesson plans, but it does mean that the project should begin with the enduring understandings and essential questions of curricula, not the technology. Also, it is important to assess any new technology projects, and not be afraid to make mistakes.

Students taking ownership / Lifetime learning

Advocates of student-owned, lifetime learning argue that learning occurs not just in classroom, but everywhere in a student's world. To be an effective educator, we need to stop thinking of schools as the primary place students go to get information, but rather the place where information is synthesized and learning takes place. (Watch the TED video of Diana Laufenberg above fore more.)

Educators can use 21st Century technologies to tap into the learning that happens outside of schools. This can be done in many ways, from letting students choose the medium to demonstrate their learning of a topic to implementing student-driven education, where teachers "take on the role of a coaches and facilitator rather than the single source of instruction" (Chen, 114).

Further examples include, but are not limited to the following:

• 1 to 1 Laptop Initiatives
• Virtual online learning, through portals and collaborations with schools across the world
• Classroom Blogs
• Microblogging (Twitter)
• Student-written Acceptable Use of Technology policies
• Student tech support for teachers and other students
• Educators modeling life-time learning, particularly with the use of PLNs (Personal Learning Networks)

Collaborative learning online

There are a variety of new technologies that can be used to encourage collaborative learning. Instead of working in a vacuum, students can use Web 2.0 technologies to work towards a common goal.

• Project-based Learning
• Game-based Learning
• Clickers to engage and solicit feedback
• Wikis or Online Document Writers

Multi-discipline Integration

Proponents of educational technology are also extolling the virtues of integrating the technology curriculum within the general course of study. Instead of designating technology as a separate elective class, students may better understand technology concepts by integrating technology instruction within classroom projects.

Open Educational Resources (OER)

As budgets are being slashed, many institutions are looking at different ways to implement technology, incorporating more cost-effective solutions. Many schools are foregoing the purchase of costly software licenses for Microsoft Office, and are implementing Web 2.0 solutions, like Google Docs instead.

New Devices & Hardware

As John Seely Brown has argued, "Tools drive science." While the implementation of new technologies should always have a curricular basis, new information needs and possibilities for learning are brought out by new technologies. This is why it's important to keep up to date with current advances.

In this section, we will take a broad look at new technologies that are being implemented in the education field, making sure to specify whether or not NCS uses certain devices.

Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are gaining traction as effective learning devices because of their ubiquity. The latest edition of the Horizon Report believes that mobile technologies will be used in K-12 education in the next 1-2 years.

• iPods
• Cell-phones
• Smart Phones - Specialized apps can be used for targeted purposes
• Net books - light-weight, extremely portable laptops
• Tablet Devices - iPads, etc.
• eReaders - Kindle, Nook, etc.

Electronic Books

Electronic books will eventually make textbooks obsolete. They make it convenient to access books in one device, so no more lugging around heavy backpacks.

While textbooks are not widely available in the e-text format, in the near future, more and more publishers will release ebook editions.

Clickers

Clickers, also known as Student Response Systems, are ideal for real-time polling in the classroom. Each student receives a clicker and then uses it to respond to questions put into a PowerPoint. You can track answers instantaneously to get an immediate look at student progress with course material, or save them electronically for later grading.

For more, check out the NCS Library Blog post: "Click to Win! - Clickers in the Classroom".

Cloud-Computing & Virtualization

Cloud computing refers to the process of using multiple networks of computers to run apps, and can ideally save an institution lots of money. There are also a variety of free resources, open content, and online communities that are only available because of cloud computing.

Virtualization is another way of managing computers from a networking standpoint. We use virtualization at NCS to easily manage our computing environments.

Many schools are also moving towards Google Apps for Education. These apps are all cloud-based, meaning file-management for the user is more streamlined, and collaboration is easily accomplished.

Simple Augmented Reality

The prevalence of cameras and microphones in mobile devices and laptops has allowed the once expensive and more theoretical realm of augmented reality much easier to implement. Using the camera and screen of a mobile device or computer, you can add layers of information that can be triggered by markers, or through GPS information.

Online Learning Environments

At NCS, we use Moodle as our Student Information System. Through this online environment, teachers can post assignments, solicit student engagement through discussion boards, assignment posting, and more. Online learning networks are an ideal scenario

Online learning environments have changed in nature after the advance of Web 2.0 technologies. Instead of just being an online folder for accessing assignments, by soliciting student feedback and input, you can have a more dynamic environment.

Many are advocating that students can get more out of an online environment by creating a Personal Learning Environment. These types of environments can be created from many free services available online through cloud computing. To see an online personal environment in action, click here.

Elmos

Elmos are camera-devices that allow you to display real-life objects as a digital image. These devices can be used as real-life overhead projectors, allowing you to show a book or other object on your computer.

Interactive Whiteboards

NCS uses Smart boards in the classroom. To learn more about Smart boards, contact Steven Rentz and watch your emails for information about the Smart Stars program.

HD Camcorders and GPS Cameras

As camcorder and camera technology advances, it is becoming easier and easier to take high quality video as well as images that capture your GPS location for each shot. This makes it easy to upload videos to sites like Flickr and then view your images on a map.