Emerging Technologies in the Classroom

There are so many new and emerging technologies that can be put to use in an educational setting to increase positive impact of student learning. On my Wiki Site: http://missfoy.pbwiki.com/, I have listed 3 new sites that I plan on implementing in my classroom curricula. These 3 new technologies are:

Skype: www.skype.com

Play a Piano: http://www.frontiernet.net/~imaging/play_a_piano.html

Virtual Frog Dissection: http://froggy.lbl.gov/virtual/

The first technology, Skype, allows users to use the internet to call other Skype users for free. Furthermore, for a small fee, calls can be made internationally, to cell phones, and to land lines.

Skype is a convenient and user-friendly technology that will have a large impact in my future teaching career. I see myself having guest speakers or conducting interviews via Skype and a webcam with people all around the world. I also think the Skype could successfully be used for students to interact with other students from around the world to increase their speaking abilities and to broaden multicultural perspectives.

Students' progress or objectives could be assessed through formatively by listen to them speak on Skype, and summatively by multicultural quizzes, writing assignments, comprehension questions, etc. . .

The second technology, of playing a virtual piano, allows users to have a piano play while they watch, or to virtually play along with the piano using the computer keyboard or mouse. A great additional feature to this is that players can see the waves that form as a result of striking various keys, and the sound they make.

This technology could be put to use in any classroom in many ways. The way I see using this site is as a reward system for things such as good behavior, turning in assignments on time, etc. .

Students enjoy and appreciate positive reinforcement, and by earning the right to use this website, they will know that they have met their specific objectives.

The third technology is a Virtual Frog Dissection site. This site allows users to see all parts of a frog from different angles and sides. Students can click on a part or organ of the frog, and it is highlighted, along with a brief description of its purpose and uses.

This technology of being able to dissect a frog online will save a lot of time, expense, politics, and queasy stomachs. Students will learn more than they would by dissecting a real frog because there won't be the distraction and chaos that usually results from younger students cutting open a real animal.

Students an demonstrate that they met objectives while using this technology the same way they would show that they met objectives using a real frog, through teacher-generated discussion, quizzes, or tests. However, another option to demonstrate positive impact on student learning might be the Frog Builder Game, where students virtually build a frog including all of its body parts.