1. Does this tool have the potential to enhance teaching in earn and well supported?
3. Is this an innovative new tool or a substantial improvement on an earlier version?some powerful way?
2. Is this tool easy to learn and well supported?
These are the criteria identified by Maureen Brown Yoder in her Learning and Leading with Technology journal article, "S' Cool Tools". She identifies a number of both online and hands on educational technology tools available for those on a budget and for those lucky enough to have funding for top of the line educational technology. For the hands on tech classroom, Lego Inc offers a relatively inexpensive set of robotic assemblies that can teach young students about mechanical engineering and physics. For older students there is the "Smart Table", a multitouch interactive whiteboard that allows student to learn from interactive apps and programs on a touch sensitive table sized tablet computer. While these option range from $19.99 to $7,999, one can't put a price on hands-on learn when it comes to technology in the classroom.
Multiuser virtual environments are the new trend in learning tools for student of all ages. "Second Life", "Whyville", and "World of Warcraft in School" are just a few examples of the growing number of virtual educational environments available to help teach students about a number of topics from the rotation of the solar system to the spread of communicable diseases. Virtual environments act to engage students on a level play that they have only, until now, been able to experience on their Xbox or Ps3. And how can talk about educational technology without mentioning Google? The Google apps Education Community provides "tools for Internet searching, collaboration, and classroom activities at its new site designed specifically for teachers." This site has public lesson plans and tutorials developed by teacher using the Google education app software.
For more visit:
http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ863940.pdf
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