I have seen the future!!!

I have seen the future of the classroom....smartboards!!! They are amazing. I have only taught for 2 years and that was 10 years ago and my most advanced technology I had was being able to plug my computer into the tv in my classroom so the kids could see things on there. After hearing my son talk about them and then wathing this video on YouTube I was simply amazed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U05WeXPGlk

It almost looks like something from a sci-fi movie. The possibilitied are only limited by your imagination.
It could make teaching & learning a lot more fun.
One example I can think of for a history class would be a series of "what ifs". What if Columbus sailed a little further north or south? What is the the german army was in different positions during D-Day? think about how much better students could grasp a subject simply by playing the "what ifs".

Mike

Lessons via podcast

I have been hearing on some radio stations (mainly MPR) that offers some of the reports are available for download by podcast. Why not take this idea into the classroom. My son's brand new high school has a set up with the teachers where they have a microphone to broadcast their lessons. It would be very simple to hook up the microphone to a recording device to make the lesson available for download by podcast. Imagine the possibilities....If the lesson becomes available for download, a student that missed the day for any number of reasons (illness, vacation, class trip) can access the lesson and keep up with the class. Also a student can review it later to re-enforce a lesson that can especially help before a test. Another possiblity would be in a situation where a teacher may be out for the day but can present the lesson in a way that a substitute cant. I could see this being a major development for teachers and students.  Imagine the possibilities!!!

Here are a couple of links you can use to learn more that I found very helpful....

http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/podcasts/

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/ict/podcasting.htm

Hope these help