"Overhead Projector" by Jim Hickcox on Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
Why is this important for us to examine? As educators, technology has taken a front row seat amidst our curriculum. We are integrating technology at every step of the day in order to take our instruction to the next level. Educators are ensuring that our students are learning 21st century skills in order to be ready for a 21st century workplace. It is important for us to know and understand the tools that we are teaching with. At this point, teachers almost understand less about the technology than their students. However, teachers have been growing and changing with the technology. We have seen pieces of machinery enter our classrooms as the new and improved tool and then be replaced years later.
That being said, I had to feature a picture of an overhead projector on today's blog post. When I think of a piece of classroom technology that was the main focus of technology for years, only to be replaced in years to come with pieces such as projectors and Smartboards I think of overhead projectors. They were in all of my classrooms growing up. Now that I am a teachers, they are mostly replaced. When I started my teaching career about 7 years ago, they were still in use. However, today my students and I have an inside joke to where we refer to it as the "dinosaur". What is interesting is that they think it is actually quite neat!
There are many people keeping the history of hardware alive today by collecting the names and pictures of the varieties of computers, personal laptops, and gaming devices all on one website. Check out http://bit.ly/WgDgO8 for a little blast from the past. Also, another great website that I found extremely interesting that goes as early as 1972 with a Hewlett-Packard is http://oldcomputers.net/.
No matter what age you are, you will embark on an educational journey with technology. Learning the terminology and the basics to understanding how it all works will ensure a smooth and successful road. We have a lot to look forward to in our future!
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteWhen I think back to my days in middle school and high-school, I too remember the overhead projector being used all the time. It is absolutely amazing the technological shift and progress that has been made in today’s classroom with implementing technology. I too believe that it is important that teachers understand hardware in order to effectively educate our students. Like you mentioned “Educators are ensuring that our students are learning 21st century skills in order to be ready for a 21st century workplace.” This is a wonderful connection you made here.
Also, thanks for sharing your “blast from the past” resources. It’s always fun to travel back to the past and see how much progress our society has made today. Lastly, thanks for the tips about Facebook and Pinterest in the comments on my blog posting for this week. I too love using Pinterest to spice up my teaching!
Thank you, Alexis, for the kind comments! Isn't it interesting how far technology has come even since we have been in middle/high school? I was thinking today that it is extremely interesting the levels at which our knowledge sits depending on which generation you are from. Even within a 10-year difference, teachers share completely different knowledge about technology. However, wouldn't you think that if you have lived through the changes in technology that you have grown and learned with it? But that doesn't seem to be the case. As of now, we need to focus on doing the very best we can of getting our students ready for a world we can't even imagine yet!
ReplyDeleteThank you for assisting me with the picture and copyright rules for my blog! I think it looks much better with a picture! I appreciate it!
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I completely agree with your two main points. You stated:
"It is important to understand the terminology that is involved with technology. It is also quite difficult to remember and acquire these terms correctly."
Before I read the text chapter on hardware, I wasn't quite sure how much the storage on my computer and other various technologies could hold. I now know that my 8 MB USB memory stick will hold about 40,000 pages of text, which means I should be good with one for the year…
Also, I shared the same thought when I read about older technology no longer used in classroom:
"I had to feature a picture of an overhead projector on today's blog post. When I think of a piece of classroom technology that was the main focus of technology for years, only to be replaced in years to come with pieces such as projectors and Smartboards I think of overhead projectors."
Although I have never used one in the classroom, I do have a number of transparencies from the text book I am supposed to be using with one of my classes hidden in the back cabinets. They seem to need much more work than writing on my power points on my white board. I am very glad the intel on my ceiling connects directly to my computer and document camera, but I am also jealous of classrooms with smart boards. I tried making a Wii smart board, but my district would not allow the program to be downloaded on my school computer. Do you have a smart board? I have heard wonderful things, and even used them as a substitute. The priorities at my school however, fall elsewhere in getting our computers up to speed for the new Florida Assessment.
Thank you for your post.
- Hope
Hope,
DeleteThank you for your comments! Isn't it interesting to reminisce of the "pieces of the past"?
It is disappointing that you and many other classrooms are not experiencing technology to its fullest capacity in the classroom because of funds being directed towards other places such as Standardized Testing. I do have Smartboard technology through the device and software of Mimio. I have worked with both Smartboard and Mimio in my career and they both offer their own benefits. It is a wonderful way to integrate technology and student collaboration while engaging students in today's curriculum.
Again, sorry to hear that funds are going towards the computers because of testing, not because computers should be kept "up to speed" for the technological uses of today. My dean was actually in my office just this week explaining that she had recently read an article about Florida's new computerized assessment. She could not believe the students would be expected to take the entire assessment on the computer when they are lacking in keyboarding skills.
I am very appreciative of where I work and that our focus is positively on technology and the journey our students take with it versus standardized tests.
It sounds like you are trying what you can in order to get some forward movement in the means of technology. Do not give up the fight! You are a great teacher with wonderful ideas!
Thank you for commenting!
Kelly