Integrating Technology when Tech Resources are VERY Limited??

I teach for a school system where we have to follow very strict rules about things such as grants (we cannot write them or accept "donations) and privacy/confidentiality. I feel that this is really limiting my ability to use technology and Web 2.0 tools. We are able to use "Gaggle", but I am not sure about other things such a blogs or wikis. I am working with a colleague to start gathering some inexpensive pieces of technology such as "off-brand" MP3 players w/video to create podcasts, but since these will be paid for out of pocket, it might take some time.

If anyone has suggestions for how I can make the most of the desktop computers (that is all the technology we have), beyond games and using Office applications...I would be grateful !

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ann on January 10, 2011 at 10:54am

If you haven't done so already, take a look at the Elementary Tech Teacher ning. There are so many ideas that you may be able to use. You can post this question on their forum, too.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colleen Priester on January 10, 2011 at 11:44am

Thank you! I will do that!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colleen Priester on January 10, 2011 at 11:45am

Thank you for the information about the Sansa players.

As far as software, we are unable to download or use anything that is not on a very limited "approved" list that was created a few years ago. That has limited us a lot.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John J Caprice on January 10, 2011 at 5:03pm

Dear Colleen,

I see that your school is a DODEA school. That explains the strict regulations. Security is important.

However, I have sold many products to DODEA schools in Puerto Rico, and Europe. When funding is available, these schools will be limited to a $3,000.00 purchase throgh their Gov credit card. I assume that the Superintendent is the decision maker in these acquisitions. If you like, I'll email you some of the names of the teachers in Puerto Rico that have recently made purchases. Perhaps they can provide some more insight and guidance.

As far as the other suggestions that you have received, you'll probably need approval to bring them into class.

JJC

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colleen Priester on January 10, 2011 at 5:49pm

Thank you!

I really would love to make technology a focus in my school. Right now, I believe that some of the teachers see technology as something extra. We don't have "computer" classes at the elementary level, so it is our responsibility to not only integrate technology, but to be sure we are helping the students master appropriate computer skills in doing so.

I think I will speak with my administrators about what we can/cannot do in relation to blogs (I know Gaggle.net now has a blogging option, so I need to look at that), bringing in things such as mpg3 players for podcasts, etc.

Again, thank you for the feedback!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Sherman on January 13, 2011 at 3:40am

Take a look at some prominent blogs for more ideas. We are a huge fan of http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ by Richard Bryne, you could also look at http://macoun.edublogs.org amongst others.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Lee on January 13, 2011 at 8:14pm

" anyone has suggestions for how I can make the most of the desktop computers" .

I'm thinking you can still do a lot with existing multimedia apps, integrating them into the current classroom curriculum. For example a report about planets would turn into a narrated slideshow with Microsoft Photostory or Imovie. There would be a research component finding facts about who discovered the planet, date discovered, who it was named after, order from the sun, distance from sun, earth, diameter, rotational period, revolution time.

All of these facts would researched on the net, then written on a word processor. 1/2 dozen beautiful images would be collected from the net. Kids would put the photos into the slideshow, grab a cheap microphone and narrate the images with their research.

You'd take a pic of each kid against a solid colored wall, teach the kids how to use the magic wand with your favorite free photo editor to delete backgrounds and put a space background there instead. Theyd add that as a title slide to their show.

Now take that concept and substitute the word "Planets" for Dinosaurs, Camouflage, Volcanoes, Weather, or Biography of" and you could extend the multimedia idea throughout various grade levels.

Now you've got projects that can go on for 6 weeks or more and require a diverse technical skillset that integrates directly into the classroom .

Take that to a whole new level by grabbing an old computer, installing an open source 'free' in-house intranet only webserver for the kids to use and then teaching the kids to build a basic html webpage and embedding their movie slideshows into that. You could download and install Wordpress Multi-user blog system on your intranet webserver and have the kids blog like crazy all within the confines of your school grounds. Nobody can see what they do outside your walls and they still get the benefit of blogging and writing in the 2.0 style.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeroen van Veen on January 15, 2011 at 6:19am

The linux kde desktop environment comes with an education package, that includes all kinds of educational games and tools. Besides this, you will find the linux repositories filled with all kinds of scientific stuff. You may find processing( http://processing.org/) a nice interactive tool for students to learn about music, programming and graphics. If you want to experiment with virtual world learning tools(simulations/role-playing, etc.) you could try OpenSimulator(open source version of Secondlife). I'm currently developing an open source e-learning cms/interface(

https://github.com/phrearch/hwios) that includes opensimulator management tools.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Drew Ray on January 21, 2011 at 10:24am

www,ebackpack.com will have a free version too - digital cloud storage for teachers

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jon Nemeth on January 27, 2011 at 5:39pm

If you want to introduce technology in the classroom, yet suffer from budget restrictions, I would look into a company called Novachi. They offer a free SIS(student Information System) that is a completely web 2.0 cloud based app. Great thing is they are completely free for students, parents, teachers, and administrators-- no one gets charged.

If you dont know what an SIS is, its essentially a platform that allows schools and teachers to keep track of student data, manage your gradebooks, enrollment, attendance, assignments, quizes, etc.. All within one program. Kids get submit their assignments online, and parents can check your lesson plan to see whether or not their child has done their homework.

You can find Novachi at http://www.novachi.com

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Channel on January 30, 2011 at 1:52pm

The high school I teach at also has limited technology. So recently I began allowing the students to use the technology they already bring into the classroom - smartphones. In addiition to other uses, students post Twitter comments and summaries during Socratic Seminar discussions to my own and other classrooms. Have you considered using this technology?