DigitalClassroom


 * The Digital Classroom for ISU**

What should be the Digital Classroom for ISU? Should it be the same for the Junior and the Senior School? Do they have different needs?

Your contributions and conclusions will help ISU to develop a real budget based on ICT requirements for each school.

Please contribute here… Include your name in [ ] at the end of any statement that you contribute i.e. [Maria Jose] and add your statement in a color different from blue.


 * media type="custom" key="5364585" width="180" height="180" || This video shares ideas about education today and is two-and-half minutes in length.

This video was created by Tom Woodward of Henrico County schools in Virginia. Tom used the work of Karl Fisch from Colorado who created a PPT using various quotes and statistics from "flat world" thinking. ||

**Let’s start with a contribution from Michael Rice (5th Grade Teacher at ISU):** In terms of allocation of equipment, there needs to be a formulated plan for the equipment that should be present in each and every classroom. This forms what is commonly known as the “digital classroom”. This has a bare minimum requirement which is usually computer, speakers and projector. The maximum requirement for this is those items, plus interactive whiteboard, scanner, camera and printer. However this is an absolute requirement and not feasible in most schools. With this in mind it is necessary to look at providing the minimum and having shared resources for the rest. To me the best solutions would be to have the following:
 * Computer (laptop ideally for teachers both in school and out of school) Laptops are fantastic items for use, and invaluable for teacher with no class or who move from class to class.
 * Projector – ceiling mounted.
 * Interactive whiteboard. – E-beam being the preferred solution.
 * Speakers, (although in most projectors it is possible to play sound directly through them)
 * Shared Printer. – A shared printer is a must. Ideally one shared between 2 grade, or two subject areas. This would leave the main printers free and provide another solution to printing needs.
 * Scanners should be made available trough out the school. The library is one are in which multiple scanning options are a must.

[Michael Rice]

**Techology Equity??** I am a strong advocate for the digital classroom and believe that if we want to equip students for the future and more importantly for today we need to develop classrooms that have the capacity to meet this need. However, I also believe that students at different age levels learn through different forms and show evidence of their learning through ever increasing forms. A four year old child in Early Childhood can demonstrate their understanding of food chains through playing with plastic figures of animals eating one another. This information is recorded by the teacher through a digital video camera or digital audio recorder. However, a 17 year old in Grade 12 will demonstrate their understanding of momentum and forces through use of use of light gates and sensors, modeling tools and spreadsheets. There has to be a difference in the provision of technology throughout the school however the questions that this raises are: - what is the minimum requirement for the classroom (this is dependent on expectations of teachers and developmentally appropriate resources.) - what technology items should come from the Senior/Junior School resources budget rather than capital? - if technology items are paid for through the school budgets, who is responsible for their installation, storage, maintenance and replacement? E.g. digital cameras, science sensors, Adobe InDesign Suite etc. [Daniel Todd ]

As a starting point, what if we think on having some of the items mentioned by Michael Rice in all classrooms in the school? What if we start with the following?

o ** Computers: ** We have one on each classroom. They are fair enough currently. We have to increase the memory (RAM) in some of them, especially in the Junior School, where they host the NComputing (pod) card. Probably a second step could be moving all to laptops.

o ** Projector: ** Ceiling mounted (almost all rooms in the Junior School have one, but not mounted).

o ** Good quality speakers ** (although in most projectors it is possible to play sound directly through them.) Daniel, the projectors in the Junior School are capable of playing sound directly through them?

And some **shared items** such as: o ** Printers: ** Where do you think should be located? Color? B&W? o ** Scanners: ** Currently we have one on B1 and one on B2. Same question… Where do you think should be located?

[Maria Jose Mora]

_

Dan has a good point. I agree that each grade must be considered in isolation and simply giving technology for the sake of giving technology is foley. I think and have seen to some extent, that technology is best served as students become more involved in thier own learning, and recognise the use of technolgy as a means to an ends. This is not necessarily the case in the lower grade, but does not mean that we should exclude the application of it in classrooms. ​ Each case must be examined on its own merits, and not interms of the teachers, but in terms of what it will bring to the classroom. The "digital classroom" is an ideal. Its should be taken as a bench mark and adapted to fit the needs of the year group, and not the teacher.

While we talk about the equipment, we must also consider room layout, cable and lighting. Its is too easy to forget these and this needs to be considered along with equipment needs. Connection points, power, whiteboard layout, windows, doors, all need to be evaluated and the best classroom layout defined. This is something that requires discussion and ultimately may need some revision.

Finally, if we talk about the "digital classroom" then this should include the software that runs on each machine. I would suggest that a defined profile for each grade be devised and that be applied to the studentrs in those grades. Perhaps this should be a common profile with additions that are required as students move through the schools. Again this requires further discussion.

[Michael Rice]