2010 Technology Trends: How does your district measure up?

Having a little free time to myself over vacation, I came across an interesting article published in The Journal about technology trends for 2010. Experts were asked as to what they thought would be the leading contenders for the upcoming year. In my opinion, they're definitely right on the mark with many of their predictions. Here's what they had to say:
1. eBooks- will continue to grow in the education sector but they've seem to taken hold more in the general market with a variety of eBook readers already available for personal use of non-fiction and fiction material. With future enhancements, these readers would definitely lighten the load our kids carry around daily.
2. Netbooks- gaining widespread popularity for inclusion into the educational arena and cost effective, too, to support many one-to-one computer programs.
3. Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs)- infusion of these interactive resources continues to grow because of the unique ability they have to engage students (and learning), when used to their fullest potential.
4. Personal handheld devices- mp3 players, phones, cameras, etc are making their way into the eductional setting even though there are still many who are concerned about the distractions they create for students and security risks invovlved.
5. Technology advances meeting specific districts' needs- data collection programs, customizing and individualizing to meet districts curricular needs and student populations. Looking for better student tracking and planning programs to suit targeted student populations.
Well, these are the top ones the experts have chosen. As for the district I work in, we have touched upon every one of these trends, some more than others. The personal devices in the classroom debate will continue and the data collection and management challenges that we all seem to be facing won't be going away anytime soon. For my district the biggest influence has been the infusion of the IWBs. The more we understand and unravel their capabilities, the better off our students will be to meet the demands of the 21st century. So, let me pose the question to you. How does your district measure up to these trends?

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Tracy Tishion's picture
Submitted by Tracy Tishion Mimio Master Mimio Moderators Mimio Site Manager Mimio Certified Trainer on Jan. 4, 2010

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How does your district measure up in current technology?

My district utilizes a variety of current technological devices throughout the district. Many of our classrooms have interactive whiteboards, cameras, and netbooks. All of our classrooms have several computers for teacher-use and student-use, as well as a large conputer lab. Although we do not have e-books in the lower elementary grades, many of the students have personal Kindles or Nooks to use.

  • Posted:
    May. 11, 2011
shale
Posted by
shale
3.5
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Downloads: 139

Measure Up

I think that most of the schools in our district do measure up. Right now they are concentrating on interactive whiteboards - which I am a fan of. One thing you touched on was the ebook readers. I think that is a great idea for our students especially for struggling readers.

  • Posted:
    Jan. 12, 2011
grd119
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grd119
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Downloads: 19

This article is right on the

This article is right on the money as far as my district is concerned. We are using IWBs, iPod Touches, and ebooks to name a few. Some of our schools have COWS (computers on wheels) that classrooms can check out so each child has a laptop. The thing we're working on right now is teacher training so they not only know how to use all of these great devices, but how to use them appropriately.

  • Posted:
    Oct. 13, 2010
mschiebel
Posted by
Michelle Schiebel
4.65
(15 ratings)
Downloads: 68

MIMIO Interactive

I have had the pleasure of training the core subject teachers of our district on the MIMIO Interactive, Capture, and Pad. Not only have the teachers (most of them) hit the floor running back to classroom eager to start using their new technology but the students are very excited to get their hands on the technology and show their peers what they know (technology and subject matter.

  • Posted:
    Mar. 6, 2010
peggy.clore
Posted by
Peggy Clore
4.7
(17 ratings)
Downloads: 209

Handheld devices

Just this afternoon when I went home for lunch the news was talking about a school in Colorado that allows students to have their cell phones with them at all times and use them. The reasoning behind it was that the school district was lacking technology and had no way to pay for updating it. Instead they incourage students to have email and internet on their phones so that they can search the web and have conversations with other students through out their school as well the world with their technology and the school doesn't have the expense. I thought this was a very interesting new approach to money shortages for technology. They also said it educated the students in the understanding that cell phones were a technology not just a game or social network tool.

  • Posted:
    Feb. 3, 2010
Kathy Franek
Posted by
Kathy Franek
3.3
(6 ratings)
Downloads: 60

Interesting

My students came to me a few weeks ago with the idea of bringing an Ipod touch or their personal laptops to class so they could type their notes on. Of course, we are an independent school and the monies are not there for individual laptops for every student. I thought it was a wonderful idea. (They had to show me the Ipod touch application for note taking) The students stated they could type faster than they can write, which I am sure is true. It is a wonderful idea in order to prepare them for what they might face in college. However, we did turn them down on the idea because we can not control what is on their personal devices. We are going to hopefully look into some grant money and try and get small laptops for notetaking!

  • Posted:
    Feb. 6, 2010
sselkins
Posted by
Sheryl Elkins
3.2
(5 ratings)
Downloads: 71

iPods in the classroom

I think this is a fascinating idea. It does get complex once you introduce personal devices into the classroom but there are a couple of things you can do. Did you consider writing behavior expectations regarding the device into your acceptable use policy? Also, be sure and talk to your district network specialist. There are things they can do to lock down which sites students can access on their personal devices. It doesn't prevent the students from having saved content but it does prevent them from going to inappropriate applications and sites while they are in the school.

You might also consider getting some wireless keyboards. These are no longer just for teaching typing. Many of them have sufficent memory to hold papers, notes, and text based assignments.

Good luck with finding your grant money.

  • Posted:
    Mar. 27, 2011
dedgar
Posted by
dedgar
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Downloads: 28

Hanheld devices

Just this afternoon when I went home for lunch the news was talking about a school in Colorado that allows students to have their cell phones with them at all times and use them. The reasoning behind it was that the school district was lacking technology and had no way to pay for updating it. Instead they incourage students to have email and internet on their phones so that they can search the web and have conversations with other students through out their school as well the world with their technology and the school doesn't have the expense. I thought this was a very interesting new approach to money shortages for technology. They also said it educated the students in the understanding that cell phones were a technology not just a game or social network tool.

  • Posted:
    Feb. 3, 2010
Kathy Franek
Posted by
Kathy Franek
3.3
(6 ratings)
Downloads: 60

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