Technology in the classroom

This week I was introduced to the use of the Smart Board in the classroom. The teacher used it to graph some linear equations as well as for the Bellringers at the beginning of every day. The classroom that I am in is equipped with some top notch technology such as laptops, graphic calculators, and the Smart Board. In my opinion, a challenge of having technology in the classroom is using it effectively and not just to say that technology is used in the classroom. It must produce a valuable learning experience that cannot be duplicated easily on paper. I believe the students will like using the various types of technology because it is something different as long as the activity has value and is not confusing. I think almost everyone in the class needs to have or be able to conveniently share the technology or it will not be useful. I hope to integrate much technology into the curriculum that I teach.

http://www1.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/SB/SB.html
This website has some tips for using the Smart Board.

http://www.nctm.org/about/content.aspx?id=1242
This article has information on using calculators effectively in the younger classrooms.

http://www.ericdigests.org/2000-2/graphing.htm
This resources talks about the use of graphic calculators at the middle school level. That is what the students have in the classroom that I am currently in.