Cindy Gruberger
Teacher of General and Special Education
Los Angeles Unified School District
Instructional Technology
How Cool Is This!
Take away the paper and pencil, and have the opportunity to learn by using an iPad. In this way, students can either write using the Notepad, or the Voice to Text option, where the microphone and all of the words will appear on the page. What about learning Math by playing fun games on the computer or using manipulatives. Remember the calculator? There are so many creative ways the it can be used rather than just for calculations
The teacher even has great tools to use, like a white board, where she can use multicolored markers and an overhead projector to project something small onto the white board for all to see. In some schools, teachers are very lucky to be able work with a piece of instructional technology called a Smart Board. This interactive technology works on a white board. It has touch recognition, a pen tray that remembers what is inside (the eraser, with color pens, etc), and works with "Smart Notebook" software. This is a great way for students to interact while they are learning.
One great way to use Instructional Technology is to create a class website so that parents, family and friends of the students can see what is going on in the classroom. Students are learning and at the same time are taking great pride in their accomplishments at school.
What's the purpose of Instructional Technology? Why don't we just use paper and pencil all of the time like we have in the past?
The goal is to make the teaching and learning process that much better, so that students will have the capacity to learn to their highest potential.
