1. { Karen H. Garner

2. Many of us recall scraping
sounds of chalk sliding
across the board, and the
familiar white dust clouds
out behind the school when
it was your turn to take the
erasers out to beat them
clean. The all to normal
teacher standing on front of
the class using brightly
colored visual aids is all but
a memory now as
technology has claimed a
new frontier.
Education Redefined:

3. Our children today are
being encouraged and even
driven to understand the
cutting edge of technology
as it applies to our lives as a
society. The far fetched idea
of a computer for every
student in the class room
become a reality. Elementary
students are taking classes
to learn the basics of
computer skills as part of
the standard curriculum.
Ideas become reality:

4. Students today are using
their minds in a more
complex way including the
use of more complex tools.
This ActivBoard is a
wonderful example of the
changes in classroom
education today as it has
completely replaced the
traditional chalk boards and
involves full student
participation. These boards
are often thought of as the
‘interactive whiteboard’
Practical Applications:

5. The ActivBoards are compatible with a variety of devices, including
PC’s and soon digital camera’s will be added to that list. What this
means for teachers is the ability to not only bring more information
to the classroom but also a better collaboration of educational tools.
This also includes cooperative learning with international
classrooms.
Going Global

6. Many kindergarten
classrooms are
incorporating these high
tech learning devices as
well. Such as the SMART
table. The table lets up to
eight students solve
problems collaboratively.
Tools such as these help
young minds develop
problem solving skills,
teamwork skills as well.
The technologically based
classroom in general leads
to more higher level
thinking.
We are all a team:

7. As one might expect the advances
of technology have deeply
incorporated themselves into the
high school classrooms. Here
many schools are focusing on the
fundamentals of technology to
help students develop interest in
career possibilities. As these
school continue to show
increasingly positive results more
and more middle schools are
beginning to follow suit. These
students are developing cutting
edge skills and creating projects
such as robots and alternate
energy motors.
Onward and upward:

8. Ready or not, technology has become mainstream in all
things we do. Most schools have computer labs and many
have computers in every classroom. More than 90 percent
of all schools are connected to the internet.

9. With numbers showing that
college graduates not only have
a better opportunity to grasp
those job openings, they also
have higher earning power.
What this means is more and
more people are returning to
school.
What am I doing wrong?

10. Adults returning to school
often find themselves
overwhelmed with the
demands and the time it
takes to catch up. Online
classes can offer that
opportunity to return to
school but to do so on your
own time and give you the
time you need to adjust and
catch your breath.
Technology has allowed
these classes to become
virtual including virtual labs
for those technical courses.
What am I doing?

11. Time is precious! Especially
when juggling a full time job, a
household, and children. For
this reason many adults look to
online learning for the flexibility
they need when dealing with
scheduling issues. Internet
based classes allow for
communication and assignment
submission, better
documentation with regard to
these assignments.
Give me a break!

12. Lets face it, many of us are
spoiled on the convenience
that technology offers.
Where else can you lounge in
your PJ’s sipping coffee at
your kitchen table and still
earn a degree?
Computers, the
Internet, virtual servers, and
emails have allowed so many
adults the opportunity to do
something they would
otherwise not likely do.
Shoes optional

13. Opportunities to gain a
degree at an upper scale
university has also become
factor for some seeking a
higher degree. Where
distance and familiar
obligations would otherwise
make it impossible to seek a
degree from a favorite
university across country
now it is within reach.
Well I attended …

14. With all things there are
both positives and
negatives. With the
introduction of
technology into the
classrooms so too come
the cell phones as well as
more opportunities for
students to share answers.
Nothing is perfect!

15. While there are many noteable
benefits in technology based
learning, one of the most
undeniable facts is the loss of
traditional gifts such as reading
a book. Many children are
turning their attention to video
games and computers. Many
now speculate whether the
printed book will no longer
exist in the near future in favor
of the virtual books
downloadable on favorite
shopping sites.
The death of an era

16. We have all witnessed the growth of technology, and seen even the
most avid traditionalist among us convert to using cell phones and
computers it should come as no surprise that technology has
shaped the way we learn as children or as adults.
Distance education
SMART tables and
ActivBoards are just the beginning of the new era of learning.
We go forward willingly or kicking and screaming but we must
realize that without technology, much of the things we appreciate
so much now would never have been possible. Should we embrace
the changes? I think the technology definitely has a place in the
classroom. I do believe all good things should come in small doses
however. It is an individualistic view, as the question is still being
debated. ‚How much is too much?‛
Are we going to far?