10 Technological Tools and Resources for Classroom Instruction

Daniel JIMÉNEZ FLORES

EDC 253

Word processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation

Description: Creates documents consisting of pages with text and graphics

Strengths:

it is flexible

saves time

enhances document appearance

allows sharing of documents

allows collaboration on documents

may support the learning of the writing process

Use during instruction:◦ student compositions

◦ Poetry

◦ Reports

◦ Flyers

◦ simple newsletters

◦ letters

Description: Puts numerical information in row-

column format; allows quick calculations and recalculations

Strengths:

saves time

organize displays of information

supports asking “ what if” questions

increase motivation to work with mathematics

makes visual teaching demonstrations possible

supports student products

supports mathematical problem solving

stores and allows analysis of date

useful for projecting grades

Use during instruction:◦ Budgets

◦ Checkbooks

◦ grade books

◦ illustrations of mathematical concepts

Description: Displays text and graphics (with or

without audio) in a slide show

Strengths:

Helps organize thinking about a topic

Enhances the impact of spoken information

Allows collaboration on presentations

Allows presentation of information summaries

Allows demonstrations of materials for discussions

Good for presentation of illustrative problems and solutions

Use during instruction:◦ Teacher demonstrations and support for lectures

◦ student projects

◦ book reports

◦ practice items

Most include features for people with special needs

Normally they are available in different languages

Many have help and online tutorials. These however, might not be useful to less independent learners and/or young children.

Material Generators,

Data Collection and Analysis tools, Graphic Tools, Planning and Organizing Tools, Content Area tools

Description: Software for desktop publishing, web

design, whiteboards; to generate test, test item banks, worksheets, and puzzles; to make PDFs and forms

Strengths: Practice in grammar, spelling, and

communications

Present, share and/or review content material

May conducive to collaborative learning

Methods of reporting research findings

Opportunities for creative works

Opportunities to learn about simple design criteria

Means to display and document student work

Provides opportunities for creative expression

Use during instruction:◦ Creation and use of documents

◦ Creation of web pages,

◦ Creation tests

◦ Creation of various lessons

◦ Creation of exercises.

Description: Software for databases, online

surveys; electronic grade books, statistical packages, systems for student management, testing and student response

Strengths:

Allows for testing research and study skills

Helps develop an understanding of the power of information “pictures”

It aids with posing and testing hypotheses

Use during instruction:◦ Collect data from students

◦ support decision making

◦ analyze data from experiments and research

Descriptions: Programs to draw/point; software

to edit images, chart and graph

Strengths:

Appeals to multiple intelligences

Allows for creative/artistic expression

Enhancing images

Allows for charting and graphic tools

Use in instruction:◦ Create illustrations for use in documents

◦ Create illustrations for webpages

◦ Create visual data and summaries

Description: Software for outlining and concept mapping, lesson planning, and tools for calendar keeping, scheduling and time management

Strengths:

Useful for outlining and concept mapping

Helps with organization and planning

Aids with goal and objective setting and tracking

Tool for date keeping and time management

Use during instruction:◦ Help organize ideas for writing and discussion

◦ Help organize, plan, and schedule activities

Description: MIDI tools, CAD systems, reading tools, MBLs/CBLs, GOS/GIS systems, online language translators

Strengths:

Support teaching and learning

Provide various activities

They are available in to support instruction of different disciplines: music, math, science, history, geography, language learning…etc.

Use during instruction:◦ Support tasks specific to content areas such as

technology education

Music

Reading

Science

Math

social studies

Foreign languages.

Computers, Cellphones and other handheld technologies

Web and cloud availability

Software suites

There is a wide variety of types and formats

Instructional Software, Interactive/Electronic references and books

Description: Software which serves to deliver

information provides opportunities to practice of concepts being learned.

Strengths:

Helps to increase motivation

Provide flexible learning modes

Possibility of development of creative and critical thinking skills

Use during instruction:◦ Tutorials

◦ Drills

◦ Simulations

◦ Instructional gaming

◦ Problem solving

Description: CD or online sources of information,

interactive reference materials, encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, journals

Strengths:

Interactive presentation hypermedia

With visual and audio to support information

They can include virtual environments

It is a convergence of offline (disc) and online (Internet) sources

Use during instruction:◦ Conduct research by consulting:

Encyclopedias

Newspapers

Journals

Dictionaries

Articles

E-books

◦ Find different sources and points of view.

Available in CD

Accessible via Internet

Many are free

Some require subscriptions

Criteria 4Excellent

3Acceptable

2Needs

Improvement

1Unacceptable

Project requirements

Organization

Sources

Attractiveness

Balance

Readability

Mechanics

Roblyer, M. D. (2013). Integrating Educational Technology Into Teaching. USA: Pearson Education Inc.