Teaching and Learning with Technology
Digital Technologies
in the Classroom
Chapter 4
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Scanners
• Convert printed copy or images into a digital
version
• With Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
software, scanned text can be saved as a
word processing file
• Page scanner scan one page at a time
• Flat bed scanners can scan one page or
multiple pages and can scan from a book
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Digital Cameras
• Do not use film but instead capture images to
a storage media
• May vary in resolution – the higher the
resolution the sharper the picture but also the
larger the size of the file it creates
• Storage media vary from floppy disk to
memory card
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Digital Cameras
• Stored images are then downloaded to
computer for viewing and editing
• Often come with small LCD screens on the
back of the camera to preview images as you
take pictures
• Digital photos can be used in any computer
software or can be printed on photographic
paper to create hard copy photos.
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Graphics Tablets
• Use a stylus to draw on an electronic pad
• Pressure of the stylus on the pad is converted
to images or commands
• Allow for greater control and can therefore be
used for creating art work
• The digitizer, an graphics tablet adaptation,
lets teachers add notations to a computer
image
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Sound Input Devices
• Personal microphones are a component of
most multimedia computers
• Mics plug into the sound card port on the
back of the machine
• The mic can be used to add commentary or
record music to enhance a computer
presentation or tutorial
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Pen Input Devices
• Pen input is used with Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs)
• The stylus is pressed against the PDA screen
to record commands or handwritten notes
which can be later read as a word processing
file
• The PDA can also provide management tools
such as calendars and phone books
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Touch Screens
• Computer monitor screens that are sensitive
to touch
• Touch screens are best used to issue
commands and make selections
• They can also be a useful assistive device for
students with limited motor skills
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Video / Digital Capture
• Video capture cards let you stop a video and
capture single still images of each frame as a
digital file
• Once digital, the sequence of images can be
edited and used in sequence as a digital
video or used singly as digital graphics
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Input Devices in the Classroom
Electronic Whiteboards
• Like traditional whiteboards, dry erase
markers can be used to write or draw on
them
• Electronic whiteboards can then capture the
writing or drawing and save it as a digital file
• Whiteboard files can then be printed or
shared electronically
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Output Devices in the Classroom
Data Projection
• Data projectors display a room-size image of
the computer screen to a large group
• LCD Projection Panel
• Sit on top of an overhead projector and are
plugged into the computer
• Uses the overhead projector’s light source for
display so they are limited by the quality of the
overhead
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Output Devices in the Classroom
Data Projection
• Data Projector
• Uses LCD technology but has its own light
source
• Can be fixed to the ceiling or used as a
portable desktop unit
• Can usually display both digital (from
computer) and video images (from VCR)
• Usually include speakers and a remote control
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Output Devices in the Classroom
Data Projection
• Converter
• Takes a digital computer signal and converts it
for display on a television
• Very inexpensive compared to other digital
display devices
• Resolution may not be as clear since most TV
monitors to not have the display capacity of
computer monitors
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Output Devices in the Classroom
Speakers and Headphones
• Small speakers plug into the sound card port
of a computer to play sound associated with
software
• Most sound card ports also have a
headphone port to accommodate the use of
headphones
• To accommodate multiple headphones, a
splitter can be purchased a local electronic
stores
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Emerging Technologies
Wireless Devices
• Computers and handhelds can be connected
to a network via wireless technology
• Wireless networks eliminate the cost of
retrofitting a school for network cables
• Wireless networks improve flexibility by
freeing computers from cables that tether
them to walls – computers can be moved to
wherever learning is happening
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Emerging Technologies
Palmtop Computers
• PDAs are fast becoming palm top computers
with scaled-down versions of the same
software found on desk top machines
• Newer palmtops are expandable via small
expansion cards that can add to their
capabilities
• PDAs often come with sound, microphone
and color for multimedia programs
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Emerging Technologies
E-Books
• Electronic books are tablets that display an
electronic multimedia version of a book
• A single tablet can store many books which
can be read and/or listened to by using
simple navigational controls
• Ebooks can let you take notes as your read
• Some PDAs include e-book capability
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Emerging Technologies
Voice Activated Devices
• Speaking to the computer to input data rather
than typing or clicking is accomplished via
voice activation software
• Voice input technology is already widely used
as an assistive device
• Voice activation can make computing more
flexible by freeing users from proximity to
keyboard or mouse
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Emerging Technologies
Computer Enhancements
• Improved Microprocessors
• Chips are becoming faster and more powerful
• More powerful CPUs will make it possible to perform
more complex task faster
• Storage and Memory
• RAM chip size is increasing making programs faster to
access
• Storage is increasing making it possible to load and run
larger and larger programs
• Other storage devices (eg. DVD-Rs) are being developed
to maximize portable storage.
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Emerging Technologies
Virtual Environments
• Virtual reality software and hardware can be
used to create 3-D environments
• VR worlds can be representations of aspects
of the real world or completely imaginary
• VR worlds can let students take “virtual
fieldtrips” to places otherwise inaccessible
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002
Computers in the Classroom
• Computer hardware makes it possible to
enhance teaching and learning in many ways
• Computer software focuses the hardware on
specific tasks appropriate to the classroom
• Teachers should review and evaluate both
hardware and software carefully to ensure
they have selected the best tools for teaching
and learning
Teaching and Learning with Technology
 Allyn and Bacon 2002