Technology+In+The+Classroom+Experience

Linwood Public Schools

Recently, school districts have been incorporating technology into the classrooms. Because this is so new, many aspiring teachers have yet to see the new technology in action. I was able to visit the Linwood public schools, specifically elementary and middle schools, to experience first-hand how the technology is being used. I was very impressed by all the tools they have in the classrooms to help enhance students' learning. The three technologies that stood out to me the most on my visit were the SMART table, the SMART board, and the response clickers.

The SMART table was located in a special needs classroom at the elementary school. This is a small table that is an interactive invention that allows students to work together to solve problems, play educational games, and practice concepts. This SMART table is ideal for young children and keeps them entertained while learning. As I mention, the table was in a classroom for special needs children, showing that it is a great way to help these types of students learn. The SMART boards were in the elementary and middle schools. I got to see the SMART board in action at the middle school though. When teaching a lesson on a SMART board, teachers can get their students involved so much more than with a regular white board or chalk board. By customizing lesson plans, teachers can make learning very fun for students with the SMART boards. Along with the SMART boards, a math class that I observed for a little while was using tools called response clickers. Before that day, I had never heard of such things. I found that these are individual remotes for each student that are wirelessly connected to the SMART boards. They allow students to answer questions that the teacher gives them without the other students knowing each others' answers. Of course, the software that comes with it gives the teacher a digital report of each student's answers. Therefore, the teacher can evaluate the students' progress and the students can answer questions without worrying if they say the wrong answer in front of the entire class.

Overall, I was extremely impressed by the technology used in these classrooms. I think it is wonderful that our society has become so technologically advanced and that we are using it to improve our educational system. Unfortunately, not many school districts are lucky enough to have these technologies in the classrooms as the Linwood public schools do. For the future, I hope that more and more school districts will start to incorporate the new technology into their educational systems.