Week 4
1. How do increasing computer power, decreasing size, and wireless communications make technology-enhanced classrooms more flexible? What is a virtual environment? What potential does it hold for education?
Increasing computer power allows for more programs to be used and for education via computers to run smoother. In addition, more power to the computer allows for increased CPU, increased RAM, and an overall better operating computer. When the computer operates faster, stores more, and runs both basic and advanced programs, then the flexibility for educational purposes becomes greater.
Decreasing sizes of computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and more into all in one handheld devices can make note taking, educational software, or using the Internet as easy as possible, thus allowing the learning to be easy and convenient. For students, handhelds can be used to track and store weather information for science, replace graphing calculators, or to view tutorials. For teachers, they can be used to store grades or to organize a calendar, just to name a few things.
Wireless networks make it easier to create a flexible learning environment uses all the networked resources. This eliminates having to set up workstations only where network connections are available. This almost allows for limitless access to the network no matter where one is located in the classroom. Of course, this all depends on how many computers are available. With the use of notebook and handheld computers, a classroom could conceivably have a bank of computers available for students to take to their desks for individual or group research. Also, the use of clickers via Wi-Fi allows students to give an instant response to the teacher for questions by way of clicking a handheld device. These responses are then displayed in graphs or charts. These devices are a wonderful way for the teacher to assess the students’ learning and for the students to have a visual means of seeing their answers.
The potential for learning and experimenting in a virtual environment is enormous. A virtual environment is a place where virtual reality hardware and software interaction takes place. Virtual reality allows students to see and interact with a three dimensional digital world via a headpiece and glove. These environments let you take realistic virtual field trips using digital images of real and imaginary places. You see these places using the headgear, and can touch objects or move objects using the glove.
Blog Reflection Week Ten (Website)
14 years ago
Great job. It will be easily to read if you leave a space between paragraphs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Matt. It is so much more convenient to be able to use smaller and faster technology. When the technology runs faster it is easier to incorporate it into the curriculum without losing classroom time. Wireless connections allows teachers to share computers by having a computer lab "cart" that can be taken from class to class. The cart carries laptops and since there is a wireless connection they can be used anywhere on site.
ReplyDeleteThe downfall to all of the advances in technology is that it takes a lot of training to use it correctly. If the teacher is not farmiliar with the technology and it's capabilities it will not be used effectively in the classroom. However, if the teacher is educated in the technology it will enhance lessons and assist the students and teacher in the learning environment.
At my age, I become concerned that there is too much reliance on technology. When do students interact with people, and how do they learn to figure out "things" on their own.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think technology is fantastic, but I also believe it has an appropriate place in the classroom. I also agree that the instructor must be up-to-date with the use of any technology used in the classroom.