Choosing The Right Teaching Aids
By: Rajeev Mishra
Teaching aids have come a long way since the days of the chalkboard, pointing stick, wall map and overhead transparency projector. As schools compete to provide quality instruction and raise student achievement, they are moving to research-based instructional models, such as Bloom's and Marzano's, that require teachers to teach in new ways. No longer can teachers simply lecture in large-group formats using outdated teaching aids. They must now incorporate modern technology-driven tools to engage students in their own learning.
Today's classroom technology tools include desktop, laptop, or tablet computers, interactive devices such as student response systems, projectors, audio enhancement systems, electronic whiteboards, document cameras, digital cameras, and data collection devices. Some classrooms are even using cell phones, e-book readers, and MP3 players. Educational technology companies are focusing on tools that help teachers and students share data seamlessly, advance collaborative learning, and motivate students to do better.
Classroom with a View
As teachers move to more interactive, hands-on learning environments, they can use electronic teaching tools as part of the everyday lesson. Studies show that learning improves when all students can "see and hear" what is going on in the classroom. With the use of multimedia projectors, large-format viewing areas, and audio enhancement devices, students can view and hear content easily, no matter where they sit in the classroom.
For example, to kick-start a class discussion about the conflict in the Middle East, a social studies teacher can now simply turn on a projector connected to a computer and log onto the Internet. The projector displays a Web page on a large screen or interactive whiteboard in front of the classroom. Within seconds, students begin to better understand the lesson with the help of bright on-screen graphics, charts, and easy-to-read text.
Using a standard electronic whiteboard, or a less expensive option with the same interactivity, the teacher taps the screen to highlight text, pull down menus, and move or open files. Pointing a remote, the teacher switches over to a projector's DVD connection, showing clips from a documentary. The teacher then hands the floor over to a student, who does a live Web search about the Middle East using online news sources and then creates a timeline on the fly using social studies software.
No Longer Tethered to Front of the Room
One innovative solution is to combine tablet PCs with wireless projectors. Using a digitized pen on the tablet PC's screen, a teacher can either face students while making handwritten notes or edits, or walk throughout the classroom helping small groups of students with issues. The whole group can then share those observations via the projected image. The teacher can use the tablet to project images from the Internet (such as a "real-time" Bible verse, molecular structure or mathematical equation) in order to help students work through lessons.
A second solution that gives teachers the freedom to walk throughout the classroom is a wireless audio enhancement system. This allows the teacher to wear a microphone that wirelessly communicates with speakers in the room. Modern systems provide for 360 degrees of sound and amplify both a teacher's voice and audio from classroom devices such as computers and DVD players.
A third solution is the handheld device that allows teachers to take learning beyond the classroom walls. Students can collect data via devices such as battery-powered data collection tools, GPS devices and digital cameras, and upload it to educational software. In addition, teachers can create notes and lectures to be used with student devices such as MP3 players and cell phones. These are especially useful for students who may be out of school for extended periods of time, such as when the flu hits.
New Ways to Organize and Communicate
Teachers are also creating their own Web sites and blogs to organize information and communicate better with students and parents. Web site and portal solutions help teachers and administrators share information about homework, grades, attendance, progress reports, activity schedules, lunch menus, school news, resources, and even design and deliver courses online. These Web sites can be valuable in raising student achievement and encouraging parent involvement.
Some educators are also beginning to apply Web 2.0 collaborative tools, including Webcasts, wikis, blogs, and learning communities. Still in its infancy, the use of this technology in schools will become more standard with the growth of educational resources.
Engaged Students are Tomorrow's Leaders
Students who are engaged in their own learning have higher test scores and tend to be more involved in their communities. They are also more apt to thrive on knowledge and are likely to go on to further their education. Teachers need ongoing training to leverage new technologies in the curriculum in order to keep students engaged. Administrators need to support the transformation of the teacher as lecturer to the teacher as facilitator of knowledge by providing the appropriate technology tools and training.
Rajeev Mishra is director of projector marketing and development for Epson America, Inc., www.epson.com.
