This document provides an overview of educational technology and its uses in the classroom. It discusses how technology can be used to motivate students, enhance instruction, make student and teacher work more productive, and help students learn important technology skills. Some specific ways technology is used includes interactive learning, visualizing concepts, connecting with others, and self-paced learning. Emerging technologies that could impact education include wireless connectivity, portable devices, and virtual reality systems. The document also outlines different types of educational software and online resources that teachers can utilize.

1. Technology Basics: A Great Place to Begin

2. What is educational technology? It is about the processes and tools used to address educational needs and problems, putting emphasis on applying the most current tools: computers and other electronic technologies. Roblyer& Doering, 2009

3. Why use technology in the classroom? To motivate students: Technology helps teachers gain the attention of their students. Students are more eager to do higher level exercises when the lower level skills are done using technology tools. Creating their own products using different technology can be fun. Connecting students with others around the world has been motivating to others To enhance instruction: Technology has been used to provide students with the interaction and immediate feedback that many need. Help students visualize concepts and abstract topics Giving students access to different information sources and populations Provide self-paced learning for capable students Facilitating the work of cooperative learning Roblyer& Doering, 2009

4. Cont’ To make student and teacher work more productive Using less time to produce projects. Grading and tracking student work Saving money on consumable materials To Help Students Learn and Enhance Their Information Age Skills Provides students with much needed technology skills for future vocations. To teach students how to seek, use and evaluate information Roblyer& Doering, 2009

5. Emerging Technology Trends Wireless Connectivity – Using “drops” or “hotspots” around the school building as areas where students can connect to a wireless network. Merging of Technologies – Using devices that incorporate different forms of technology. For example a digital camera that lets you take video and share the images easily over the internet. Developments in portable devices – Using portable, hand held devices that allow projects to be completed outside the classroom or school. Availability of high-speed connections – Faster connections make it easier to use different applications at the same time. Visual immersions systems – Giving students access to 3-D images to bring abstract concepts to life. Roblyer & Doering, 2009

6. Using the Three Basic Types of Software Word Processing Software – It saves time in producing projects, easily enhances documents, and allows the sharing and collaboration of documents. Spreadsheet Software – It saves time in producing projects, organizes information, helps visual changes in information when numbers are applied, and increases ease in mathematics. Database Software – Lets people share information easily, saves time locatiang and updating information, allows comparisons of information, and helps reveal relationships among data. Roblyer& Doering, 2009

7. Software Tools Materials organizers – worksheet and puzzle/IEP/test generators Data collection and analysis tools – electronic gradebooks, Student management systems, statistical packages Graphic Tools – draw/and programs, image editing software, clip art, animation, sound and font collections Planning and organizing tools – lesson plan software, scheduling and time management tools Research and reference tools – e-encyclopedias, atlases and dictionaries Content area tools – CAD systems, reading tools, GPS systems Roblyer & Doering, 2009

8. Multimedia and Hypermedia Resources Audio – CD audio, recorded sounds, prerecorded sounds Video – digitized videos, prerecorded video clips Photographs – scanned, digital camera images, commercial collections Graphic images – animations Texts – by author or imported Roblyer & Doering, 2009

9. Resources For Communicating on the Internet Asynchronous (left message) communications – e-mail, listserv, bulletin boards, blogs Synchronous (live interaction) communications – chatrooms, instant messaging, videoconferencing Cyber collaborations – MUDs, MOOs, avatar spaces Roblyer & Doering, 2009

11. References Gridley, N. & Oakes, L (2010). Best websites for teachers. Retrieved from http://www.wmtps.org/techini/bestsite/bestsite.html Roblyer, M. & Doering, A. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Pearson Education: Boston, MA