Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Technology in the Classroom

According to an article by Bob Wheaton of the Jackson Citizen Patriot, many schools in the Jackson area are embracing technology in their schools.  Quite a few of the local schools are "using high-tech gadgets such as Tablet PCs, Flip video cameras and document cameras. They’re podcasting, vodcasting and visiting teachers’ Wikipages."  14 teachers are also participating in a cell phone project where students can text their teachers questions with homework and get more personal feedback outside of the classroom.  

These are just some of the things the article states are happening in the school regarding technology:
A sampling of some of the technology being used in Jackson County schools:


• Columbia: Nook e-readers for cognitively impaired students at Columbia Central High School; iPad tablet computers for fourth-graders at Brooklyn Elementary School.

• Grass Lake: Interactive long-distance learning technology that allows students at Grass Lake to take advanced placement classes by communicating electronically with teachers at Stockbridge High School; touch-screen SmartBoards at Grass Lake High School.

• Hanover-Horton: Document cameras that interface between computers and multimedia projectors; e-readers for special education students; CAD software, Fischertechnik robotics and stress analyzers for bridge trusses for pre-engineering students.

• Jackson Christian School: NComputing devices that make computers more available at Jackson Christian Elementary School; mobile language labs at Jackson Christian High School that includes 24 netbook computers, headsets and a printer so students can study as many as 32 languages.

 Jackson Public Schools: Airliner wireless tablets; teacher Wikipages for use by students and parents; cell phone project in which students or parents can call or text participating teachers after school hours; document cameras; computer response systems that allow the class to answer multiple-choice questions on a handheld clicker, with the results calculated and displayed; hand-held Neo computers and document cameras at McCulloch Academy of Technology & Science; new media center at Sharp Park Academy that will focus on technology.

• Jackson County Intermediate School District: LifeSize video-conferencing system used for Springport and Jackson Public Schools advanced placement biology class; e2020 online curriculum used by Jackson Area Career Center.

• Michigan Center: iPod touches; iPads; podcasting; vodcasting; Macbooks/laptops; morning announcements that are edited and put on the website SchoolTube.

• Paragon Charter Academy: Document cameras in grades K-8; amplification systems used by teachers; Flip video cameras; Promethean ActivExpression Learner and Student Response Systems that allow students to answer multiple-choice questions and have classroom results displayed.


This is definitely the direction that schools need to continue going.  Technology, used correctly, can help teachers teach more effectively and students learn more efficiently.  Do you think technology in the classroom can make a difference?


nook_8inW.jpgAmanda Keinath, right, a teacher at Columbia Central High School, shows Stephanie Smedley how to use a Nook e-reader.

1 comment:

  1. These are just some of the things the article states are happening in the school regarding technology:
    A sampling of some of the technology being used in Jackson County schools: edtechnology journal

    ReplyDelete

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