Digital Cameras

In one of my practicum classes, the teacher was telling me how every year she takes lots of pictures with her digital camera, and then puts all of the pictures onto a cd complete with music and gives them to each of her students so they can always have memories from third grade. It think this is a fantastic idea; it is neat and creative, but also something that can be treasured. There are also many more ways a teacher and their students can use digital cameras...for picture projects, etc. These are a great form of technology, and just like the video cameras, the possibilities are endless.

Video Recorders

http://edudemic.com/2010/06/43-surprising-ways-to-use-video-cameras-in-the-classroom/


When I was in third grade, we were assigned a video project. We had to give a book report in class in front of a camera, and then we were allowed to take the video home after it was graded. This is the first of many projects in school that required a video camera, and they were fantastic. These projects allow the students to independently learn how to handle a video camera and put together an a+ project. If I did them so much when I was in school, I can only imagine the ample amount of projects involving video cameras that they can be doing now!

Webquests

http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/webquests.htm

A fun activity that teachers can do with students of any age is a webquest. Webquests are mini projects that require the students to search the web and find answers to questions related to the lesson. These are great because the students are learning how to use the internet and the computer while being focused on the lesson and the facts they are trying to find. The webquest gives internet use a structured feel, which is great for both the students and the teachers.

Online Portfolios

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech111.shtml

This website talks a lot about having portfolios online instead of on paper. I think this is a fantastic idea because this way, parents will be able to look at them as well as teachers, and they will be more intact and mobile. This technology is simply a way to save the progress, and I like it.

Twitter in the Classroom?

http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2009/01/teaching-with-twitter.html

This blog consists of 10 different ways to use twitter in the classroom. At first when I was reading this, I was sure that these ideas would be completely absurd. But, after closer inspection, these ideas are pretty neat. The best one, in my opinion, is to follow a celebrity and create a report on what that person is doing. Twitter is a new technology that is mainly used for socializing, but I like how the teachers are taking a spin on it to make their class more real and with the times.