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"Best Practices for Using Technology in the Classroom Technology in the Classroom When using technology for teaching, there are four basic principles to be kept in mind: Alignment: Technology should be used for a purpose-not for the sake of being flashy and not as a distraction from other forms of pedagogy. Carefully consider the ways in which video or other media that you share with your class are aligned with your learning objectives. Consider the technology that is most closely in alignment with your teaching skills and the needs of your students-if you don't like to teach with Power Point, consider giving students a handout outlining the main points of your lecture and listing major concepts to assist them in note-taking. Accessibility: Be sure that the technology that you intend to use is accessible to your students. While computers are virtually ubiquitous, and students living on campus have ready access to computing labs and other technology on campus, do consider whether or not your students have access to technology that you want them to use. Also, consider your own access to technology: make sure that you are familiar with all of the technology that you use and that media technology in your classroom is functioning correctly before the class. Plan ahead. If you are going to show a film, for example, don't wait until you walk into class to find out if the player in your classroom supports your DVD's regional format, or you will find yourself scrambling to come up with a lesson plan that does not include the film. By checking the regional format in advance, you will be able to have a matching-format DVD player delivered to the classroom by Technology Services. Assessment: As with lectures, discussions, and labs, provide your students with guidance when dealing with media technologies. If you are showing them a film, provide them with the learning objectives that you have for them in watching the film. Consider giving them a short assignment to be fil

"3 Tips on Integrating Technology in the Classroom Former Gov. Bob Wise discusses Digital Learning Day and how high school teachers can embrace technology. By Laura McMullen Jan. 25, 2012 SHARE Integrating technology into a high school classroom isn't a one-step process. "You can't just slap a netbook [computer] on top of a textbook and say, 'Great, now we have technology," says Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, an advocacy organization. Wise says that digital learning starts with teachers, whose performance is enhanced by technology-not the other way around. That's also the idea of Digital Learning Day, which the Alliance is spearheading. The first annual Digital Learning Day falls on February 1 and will celebrate innovative K-12 instructors who successfully bring technology into the classroom by assigning online course content, using adaptive software for students with special needs, and utilizing online student assessments and other digital tools. Educators, as well as parents, students, librarians, and community leaders, can learn about classroom innovations and get new ideas by chiming in during the virtual National Town Hall meeting held on Digital Learning Day. [Learn how a new iPad app is revolutionizing textbooks.] "The whole intention of Digital Learning Day is to really celebrate teachers and good instructional learning practices," says Sarah Hall, director of the Alliance's Center for Secondary School Digital Learning and Policy. And good teaching, especially the kind that involves working with evolving technologies, sometimes requires good advice. Hall and Wise shared the following ideas for effectively using technology in the classroom-not just on Digital Learning Day, but anytime. 1. Plan ahead: There has to be a comprehensive strategy in place to implement technology into the school system, Wise says, and the teachers have to be involved in the planning stages. "When a schoo

Free kids educational computer games and activities

This website has interactive math and reading games that can be played as a class on the smartboard, or individually on the computer. It is very clearly organized by grade, and the games are engaging and fun!

Games and activities for elementary students in grades 1-5. Created by teachers

ABCya is a wonderful website that we use at out centers with Pre-K and K ages. It is loaded with free online educational games. The games are mostly math and ELA based and are fun and interactive.

The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi Community.

This site provides practical and technology -specific information for students with disabilities. The author sets forth specific disabilities (ex. dyscalcula, dyslexia) and demonstrates which technologies will best help students with those disabilities.

This Science Magazine Site reviews the many ways students can use video games, cell phones, computers, online learning programs, and distance learning programs to enhance their education.

Basically, this is a helpful google tool called "Swiffy". Many computers (like iPads) do not yet allow for the use of "flash" content, which is how most video clips and visuals work. This handy tool essentially converts files rapidly into HTML5, giving individuals with incompatible software the opportunity to access all Flash SWF files. It's easy to just upload the file and convert with a click of the mouse!

Google, Microsoft, Oracle and other tech giants propose that computer science become a required proficiency in Massachusetts public schools to help address the technology labor shortage. Critics call this a kludgy solution.

Links to professional association that hosts conferences about using technology in the classroom.

You may have seen this, but I thought this was great as a way to teach young elementary students internet safety.

Another engaging activity about what to share on-line and protecting your computer from a virus is http://home.disney.com.au/activities/surfswellisland/ Surfs Well Island by Disney. I found the tip that you should never tell an on-line friend the name of your baseball team very interesting.

Great resourse for teachers starting to use more technology in their classrooms

This is a great site to download activities that others have already made on Boardmaker. It works for assistive technology and on computers. You need to have the Boardmaker software at your school though.

Do you know of any sites or blogs that focus on technology specifically to assist special Ed teachers?

This website is an amazing resource for students and teachers. The Study Island website has aligned with state standards and created tests, activities, and games that promote student mastery of each standard. Students are able to use their Study Island account at school or at home and teachers can monitor their progress with the reports that are provided from the program. I think this site is an excellent resource for teachers to utilize in order to ensure that students are mastering the necessary standards. It can be very useful for differentiating instruction and using with small groups, or as a computer center station in the classroom.

IXL has hundreds of Math related games, categorized by grade and topic. It is a subscription based site, but allows quite a few free uses, and even once you've used up your free practice for the day it refreshes and let you try again the next day.

I've used this for students to play independently at my classroom computer

IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site for K-12. Used by over 5 million students, IXL provides unlimited practice in more than 4,000 math and English language arts topics. Interactive questions, awards and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

This website includes interactive hands-on activities for Pre-K to 12 in the areas of Numbers and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability. These are great for use with the SMARTBoard, on individual computers for practice, or even just projected onto a screen and done as a class activity.