I have been teaching in the traditional environment for six years now. I spent two years in the main building before I got booted to the trailers (just kidding! but I teach electives so we don't get priority for inside classrooms). The trailers are awkwardly long and no place is a good place to sit. The TV is on one side of the room while the computer is on another and then the white board is in the middle. And course the wireless is shady out in the trailer park so unless I am at my desk connected with a cable it is out of question using the internet during a lesson. I teach AP Psychology and we discuss numerous experiments that would be greatly enhanced with reference to a website or a clearly visible video/tutorial. I was thrilled to find out in September I was getting an multimedia AV cart in my trailer. I may seem silly but this is an emerging technology for my school as it has been a long time coming. I now have access to a central hub for everything that I need--the internet, a projector, a sound system, radio, DVD, as well as TV. The box has a great stand for me to rest my laptop on and a remote so I can walk around my classroom for student/teacher interaction.
The main problem associated with this technology is the fact that they did not ask where we wanted the boxes to be located. For good reason the boxes have to be attached to the wall after school is over. Once unlocked there is only so far you can maneuver the box from the wall. The training did not take long but I struggled for a little accessing the TV input. In addition, there are some kids who can not see the projection but it goes back to the shape of the trailer.
This may seem silly but I feel this box expands my classroom walls. Psychology is such a rich, evolving topic. There is only so much I can described for them without being able to show them. For example, BrainPOP is an awesome resource that I use to introduce my students to a topic. Or in discussing types of research. I spent time in class going to faceresearch.org for us as a class to partake in a real-life, ongoing experiment. I could do these things with my class by taking them to the computer lab but that is not truly integrating technology in the classroom; that is making technology a special part of the classroom. Most students take psychology because they are interested in this area as a future career. Having access to what I do through this multimedia AV cart helps my illustrate to my students how alive and changing psychology is in the world today. It makes the discipline alive!
I would love to be able to set my classroom up in a way where all students could easily view the projection but I can't change the classroom. Our training was literally 20 minutes during lunch one day. Though the equipment comes with a huge instruction packet, I should spend more time playing with it. I am pretty technology savvy but still not perfect =) Adding a Smartboard and clickers to this would be awesome!!!!
The main problem associated with this technology is the fact that they did not ask where we wanted the boxes to be located. For good reason the boxes have to be attached to the wall after school is over. Once unlocked there is only so far you can maneuver the box from the wall. The training did not take long but I struggled for a little accessing the TV input. In addition, there are some kids who can not see the projection but it goes back to the shape of the trailer.
This may seem silly but I feel this box expands my classroom walls. Psychology is such a rich, evolving topic. There is only so much I can described for them without being able to show them. For example, BrainPOP is an awesome resource that I use to introduce my students to a topic. Or in discussing types of research. I spent time in class going to faceresearch.org for us as a class to partake in a real-life, ongoing experiment. I could do these things with my class by taking them to the computer lab but that is not truly integrating technology in the classroom; that is making technology a special part of the classroom. Most students take psychology because they are interested in this area as a future career. Having access to what I do through this multimedia AV cart helps my illustrate to my students how alive and changing psychology is in the world today. It makes the discipline alive!
I would love to be able to set my classroom up in a way where all students could easily view the projection but I can't change the classroom. Our training was literally 20 minutes during lunch one day. Though the equipment comes with a huge instruction packet, I should spend more time playing with it. I am pretty technology savvy but still not perfect =) Adding a Smartboard and clickers to this would be awesome!!!!
I was recently moved to the trailers so I feel your pain, however something can be said for not getting caught up in building politics and being incognito on some occasions. Laptop carts are a great way to bring the outside in...it is also definitely beneficial not to have to take them back and forth, they can be tedious...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great perspective to have on technology. When I think of emerging technology, I have thought of mobile technology, cloud computing, etc. Your perspective on the cart is interesting. This mod has been a great reminder to me that what is emergent to some has been around for a while for others. Great description of an emerging technology.
ReplyDeleteErin,
ReplyDeleteYou are very fortunate to have been given a mobile cart for your exclusive use, as many have to share mobile technology!
I can so agree with your comment about the incorporating technology within the classroom, rather than "going to" the technology in a lab far removed from the walls of the classroom. While I feel that education shouldn't have to exist within only "my" four walls,so leaving he classroom shouldn't cause a huge strain on the ability to educate my students, as soon as I leave the four walls of my classroom, I also leave behind additional resources which are setup for the educational benefit of my students, so leaving negates the possibility of utilizing multiple resources at the same time.
Keep up the good work, with a positive attitude and passion for technology, you may be first in line for the Smart Board, and CPS when it comes!
Lori
Erin,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to read you are doing your best to utilize technology even though there are some barriers that exist to making the set-up optimal. I believe many would use this situation as an excuse to not try to use technology in their classrooms.
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read your blog, and I enjoyed your comments. I think the problem is not with the technology itself, but with the administrators who just send the installers into your classroom without consulting with you first even though you have a better understanding of your class structure!
Thank you all for your encouraging comments. One of the things my school talks a big game about is technology but nobody uses it. So I feel like a pioneer!
ReplyDelete