Top 5 Technologies for Enhancing Teacher Productivity

Top five technologies for enhancing teacher productivity:
1. Teacher created websites, that will be used to teach from
2. Smart Boards
3. Computers, more specifically Mac’s
4. The internet
5. Sound field Headset systems
This list of five technologies is the top five technologies for enhancing teacher productivity and thus will result in higher grades and more importantly greater students engagement.
Teacher Created websites:
A teacher created website is a website that is created by a teacher for that teacher or other teachers to use in their classes. Many teachers have already created their own websites and have already seen the benefits it provides along with the support it has gained from the parents of the students in those classes. Advantages of a teacher created website would be: Information is available anywhere that Internet is available and even where it is not with the ability for the website to be burnt to a disk. Another advantage is the ability for students to review course assignments and information before or after it is delivered in class. The ability for distance education is created when students anywhere in the world are able to access the sites no matter their location. Parents are able to check home work dates as well as other key dates for the course from anywhere they have access to the internet. Some limitations may include access to computers, Internet problems, and computer problems. The implications for Students and teachers would be a wide array from a better more engaged class to a more fulfilling career to a teacher because of the enthusiasm of the students and the recognition of a contribution to education.
Smart boards:
A Smart board is a relatively new technology that has exploded in recent years and is proving to be a new wave in education. The technology consists of a projector and a large Tablet that is on either the whiteboard or a wall in a class. The Smart board is usually connected to the Internet and provides interactive engaging features such as a touch screen. You could describe a Smart board as a big tablet for a computer; the limitations of the technology are often based on the knowledge and motivation of the teachers using them. Other limitations are that they are costly to incorporate in every classroom. Advantages of the technology is that it allows you the opportunity to captures lectures and lessons and create videos and sound files that can be put on the internet and given to students that either miss class or are taking the class via distance education. Other advantages are that a teacher can use a mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth and would be much easier for students to read and write, also all notes could be put up so there is no need for a teacher to re-write their notes over and over. Implications for students and Teachers would most likely include a better engagement and greater participation on behalf of bother teacher and students. Teachers may realize that it can easily simplify their teaching and students can more easily gain access to classes if they are captured and saved.

Computers and specifically Mac’s
Computers have emerged as one of the greatest technologies of the past 50 years. It is practically mandatory for every students to have a computer or at very least have access to a computer. Computers allow access to any information imaginable. Mac Computers are quickly proving to be the best choice for computers within our educational system. The Saskatoon Catholic school board is committed to replacing the previous PC labs with Mac labs when they come up for renewal. Mac computers are known to be better at more creative applications and with the incorporation of Microsoft products such as Microsoft Office for Mac would prove that Mac’s now have the same calculative, and word processing capabilities as the best PC’s. Relative advantages of Mac Computers in Education would be giving the students the industry standards in the creative field as well as preparing them for future careers. Computers provide an ease of access to information and better programs that are designed to help students with all and any types of disabilities. Possible limitations of this technology are Cost, the initial cost of computers is expensive and the maintenance of each computer is also costly. It is said that the moment you purchase a computer it is already our of date because of the constant innovations in the field. Additional staff would have to be hired to maintain and problem solve for the school boards. Implications for both students and teacher would be again a better engaged class and better quality of product produced because of the tools used by the students. For teachers the implications would be a more organized less paper filled life.

The Internet:
The Internet is a the largest resource in the world. It contains more information that all the libraries in the world combined. The Internet is a place where you can buy or learn about anything in the world no matter your location. In regards to education the Internet is a great too when used properly and under supervision. Advantages are that it makes the world a much smaller place and allows students to visit anything or anyplace while still being at the school. With programs like Skype students can talk for free to experts anywhere in the world and that would benefit students without costing schools anything. Disadvantages are that the Internet is also a scary place that is home to predators and deviants. Teachers must not allow students to wonder the Internet aimlessly and must provide specific instructions when using the Internet. Implications for teachers and students include: Students will have a wider more dynamic education and view of the world because of its ease of access. The teachers will be able to give their students the opportunities that may not have been available had the Internet not been available.

Sound field Headset systems:
Sound field headset systems are basically an amplification system that provides the opportunity for every student to hear the teacher no matter where they are situated in a class. The system consists of one or more speaker systems, a receiver and a headset. Benefits for the teacher include: longer ability to speak and less strain on the body, greater control over the class because they can hear what they are supposed to do. Benefits for students: students will be able to hear no matter where the teacher is and or where they are facing. The students will have no excuse no to be working. Implications for the class would be a more cooperative and engaging learning environment. Teachers wont have vocal injuries and students will be able to hear no matter the location of strength of a teacher’s voice.

Ranking:
1. A teacher Made Website as a resource. I believe that this is the greatest tool for a teacher in a technology or other area can have, the information is transferable no matter where the teacher is and once you have the info up on the site it is there for life. It is the single best resource a teacher can have in any area of specialty.
2. Smart boards have been embraced by many school systems and have proven already to be an important teaching tool. It provides a means to which teachers can all teach from their own personal websites as well and making their lessons more dynamic and engaging.
3. Computers and Mac’s provide a means in which we can better train our students to industry standards. If you do not know how to use a computer effectively you will not be able to function in this technological infused world.
4. The Internet is the single greatest resource for teachers and students alike but is not as important as anything above it on the list.
5. The sound field Headset system allows for a great teacher student experience and is important for teachers health and classroom management, but is the least significant of these top five technologies.

Comparing and Contrasting.
With the Exception of the Sound Field all of these technologies are co-dependent. Each can function on its own but it’s the incorporation of each that will make the most dynamic classroom situation. The list I have created is based on my own enthusiasm in regards to incorporating technologies in the class. My Ideal situation would be a school where every students has a laptop and all classes would be taught from teachers websites, this could also be a model for a distance education system as well as a real world school. It only takes one teacher to make a difference in a student’s life and the same goes for a school and technology. It takes one teacher to prove the importance of each of these technologies in order for them to implement within a school. Each of the top 5 would not exists without the invention of Plastic, which is the greatest invention of all time.

Live Life, Love, Laugh, and Design Unlikely Futures

Cheers
Marc