ELECTRONIC GADGETS FOR THE CLASSROOM

• Laptops & Tablet PCs
  Many students use laptops to take notes nowadays, and Tablet PCs are becoming popular as well. A Tablet PC is essentially a notebook computer with the keyboard, mouse, and monitor replaced by a touch screen for writing and computing with a stylus. Tablet PCs allow students to easily incorporate notes and files from several classes onto one portable device.

 

• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
  PDAs offer a variety of organizational tools, such as a clock, a date book, an address book, a task list, a memo pad, and a calculator, in a small hand-held device. PDAs also allow the user to synchronize data with other computers and usually include versions of popular word processing, spreadsheet, and web brower software. Many accessories, such as full keyboards, can be used to enhance their functionality  

• Smart Phones
  A new generation of phones combines standard cell-phone fare with the basic tools and connectivity offered by PDAs. By integrating a full keyboard into a phone, these devices allow a user to record notes, keep a schedule, write emails and surf the Web.

 

• Digital Audio Players & Recorders
  Digital recorders are available both as stand-alone devices and as accessories for digital audio players, such as Apple's hot-selling iPod. Duke University pioneered this application by giving a new iPod (along with a recorder) to all of their incoming students and encouraging them to bring them to class and record lectures.
• Digital Video
  Four Rice classrooms are equipped with Capture Classroom, a groundbreaking system that allows lectures to be recorded and saved to the Internet, where they are available for high quality stream or download. The system also incorporates images of what is on the professor's computer screen.  
• green mp3 player image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
  Ipods engage learners and create powerful lessons.
   
  Most school systems have technology standards that all students must attain at various points throughout their education. Education standards are guidelines that define the knowledge and skills students should possess during certain points throughout an academic year. And while the standards differ, the expectation that today's students need to become more familiar with technology does not. In fact, many school systems offer county-wide teacher training for effective ways to implement the use of various gadgets such as SmartBoards, Mimios and Interactive Whiteboards. School systems invest a great deal of money into these devices to encourage and motivate educators to create interactive and engaging lessons. 

The impetus for incorporating technology standards into the curriculum for most school systems is preparation for real life.                                                                            Because society is becoming more technologically advanced, school systems are having to keep up with trends to better prepare students for life outside of school. 

• Gadgets also help to make the learning environment interesting and engaging.                                                  As we move toward a more digital society, kids are being exposed to technology and digital devices at a young age. So when they come to school, they have little to no patience for lecture-style teaching. Students are seeking a high-tech, digital experience in the classroom. And while they may not get this exactly, with the continual use of various digital and high-tech gadgets, they are coming close. SmartBoards, Ipods, and Mimios are just a few of the gadgets that are improving the quality of education in today's school.
• Since not all students learn in the same fashion, employing the use of gadgets in the classroom helps teachers reach all learning types.                                 SmartBoards can engage the visual, audio and kinesthetic learners. Ipods can reach the audio and visual learners, while digital cameras and videos reach the kinesthetic learners. Using gadgets to engage all learners will facilitate the comprehension of content and allows for consistent progression in the teaching of material. 
• All too often, underprivileged kids will not have familiarity with new technological advances or devices outside of the classroom.   

The use of various gadgets within the classroom gives these students the opportunity to use devices and equipment that they would not ordinarily have access to.