Digital Technologies in the Classroom

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Digital Technologiesin the Classroom
Teaching and Learning with Technology

• Chapter 4

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Scanners
• Convert printed copy or images into a digital
  version
• With Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
  software, scanned text can be saved as a word
  processing file
• Page scanner scan one page at a time
• Flat bed scanners can scan one page or multiple
  pages and can scan from a book

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Digital Cameras
• Do not use film but instead capture images to a
  storage media
• May vary in resolution the higher the
  resolution the sharper the picture but also the
  larger the size of the file it creates
• Storage media vary from floppy disk to memory
  card

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Digital Cameras
• Stored images are then downloaded to computer for
  viewing and editing
• Often come with small LCD screens on the back of
  the camera to preview images as you take pictures
• Digital photos can be used in any computer
  software or can be printed on photographic paper
  to create hard copy photos.

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Graphics Tablets
• Use a stylus to draw on an electronic pad
• Pressure of the stylus on the pad is converted to
  images or commands
• Allow for greater control and can therefore be
  used for creating art work
• The digitizer, an graphics tablet adaptation,
  lets teachers add notations to a computer image

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Sound Input Devices
• Personal microphones are a component of most
  multimedia computers
• Mics plug into the sound card port on the back of
  the machine
• The mic can be used to add commentary or record
  music to enhance a computer presentation or
  tutorial

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Pen Input Devices
• Pen input is used with Personal Digital
  Assistants (PDAs)
• The stylus is pressed against the PDA screen to
  record commands or handwritten notes which can be
  later read as a word processing file
• The PDA can also provide management tools such as
  calendars and phone books

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Touch Screens
• Computer monitor screens that are sensitive to
  touch
• Touch screens are best used to issue commands and
  make selections
• They can also be a useful assistive device for
  students with limited motor skills

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Video / Digital Capture
• Video capture cards let you stop a video and
  capture single still images of each frame as a
  digital file
• Once digital, the sequence of images can be
  edited and used in sequence as a digital video or
  used singly as digital graphics

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Input Devices in the Classroom

• Electronic Whiteboards
• Like traditional whiteboards, dry erase markers
  can be used to write or draw on them
• Electronic whiteboards can then capture the
  writing or drawing and save it as a digital file
• Whiteboard files can then be printed or shared
  electronically

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Output Devices in the Classroom

• Data Projection
• Data projectors display a room-size image of the
  computer screen to a large group
• LCD Projection Panel
• Sit on top of an overhead projector and are
  plugged into the computer
• Uses the overhead projectors light source for
  display so they are limited by the quality of the
  overhead

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Output Devices in the Classroom

• Data Projection
• Data Projector
• Uses LCD technology but has its own light source
• Can be fixed to the ceiling or used as a portable
  desktop unit
• Can usually display both digital (from computer)
  and video images (from VCR)
• Usually include speakers and a remote control

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Output Devices in the Classroom

• Data Projection
• Converter
• Takes a digital computer signal and converts it
  for display on a television
• Very inexpensive compared to other digital
  display devices
• Resolution may not be as clear since most TV
  monitors to not have the display capacity of
  computer monitors

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Output Devices in the Classroom

• Speakers and Headphones
• Small speakers plug into the sound card port of a
  computer to play sound associated with software
• Most sound card ports also have a headphone port
  to accommodate the use of headphones
• To accommodate multiple headphones, a splitter
  can be purchased a local electronic stores

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Emerging Technologies

• Wireless Devices
• Computers and handhelds can be connected to a
  network via wireless technology
• Wireless networks eliminate the cost of
  retrofitting a school for network cables
• Wireless networks improve flexibility by freeing
  computers from cables that tether them to walls
  computers can be moved to wherever learning is
  happening

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Emerging Technologies

• Palmtop Computers
• PDAs are fast becoming palm top computers with
  scaled-down versions of the same software found
  on desk top machines
• Newer palmtops are expandable via small expansion
  cards that can add to their capabilities
• PDAs often come with sound, microphone and color
  for multimedia programs

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Emerging Technologies

• E-Books
• Electronic books are tablets that display an
  electronic multimedia version of a book
• A single tablet can store many books which can be
  read and/or listened to by using simple
  navigational controls
• Ebooks can let you take notes as your read
• Some PDAs include e-book capability

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Emerging Technologies

• Voice Activated Devices
• Speaking to the computer to input data rather
  than typing or clicking is accomplished via voice
  activation software
• Voice input technology is already widely used as
  an assistive device
• Voice activation can make computing more flexible
  by freeing users from proximity to keyboard or
  mouse

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Emerging Technologies

• Computer Enhancements
• Improved Microprocessors
• Chips are becoming faster and more powerful
• More powerful CPUs will make it possible to
  perform more complex task faster
• Storage and Memory
• RAM chip size is increasing making programs
  faster to access
• Storage is increasing making it possible to load
  and run larger and larger programs
• Other storage devices (eg. DVD-Rs) are being
  developed to maximize portable storage.

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Emerging Technologies

• Virtual Environments
• Virtual reality software and hardware can be used
  to create 3-D environments
• VR worlds can be representations of aspects of
  the real world or completely imaginary
• VR worlds can let students take virtual
  fieldtrips to places otherwise inaccessible

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Computers in the Classroom

• Computer hardware makes it possible to enhance
  teaching and learning in many ways
• Computer software focuses the hardware on
  specific tasks appropriate to the classroom
• Teachers should review and evaluate both hardware
  and software carefully to ensure they have
  selected the best tools for teaching and learning