Module 12 - Technology Education and $10,000 to Spend

We can all agree that technology is playing a bigger role in education than ever before. Students are expected to be proficient in typing, word processing, spreadsheets, Internet use, and more. As students are born into the digital age, they have a knack for technology. They tend to be quite proficient in technology use, and even surprise some of the most seasoned technologists. In addition, as technology integration becomes increasingly important, the federal government is working to implement standards for technology education. With these standards will come additional student testing. The recently approved stimulus plan has allocated additional funding for technology education and classroom integration, reinforcing the importance of technology education.

If I was a teacher, and I had $10,000 to spend on my classroom, I would outfit it with what I believe are essentials. I would start with a Promethean board and add all of the gadgets to go along with it. The following is the pricelist for the Promethean board and the components I would want to make the best use of it:

78” Promethean Board....................................$1439.00
Promethean Board Rolling Stand.......................$449.00
Promethean Response Systems.......................$1965.00
Promethean ActivSlate......................................$360.00
Epson Powerlite 83+ Projector..........................$559.00
Qomo Presenter QD700 Document Camera.......$995.00
Apple MacBook...............................................$1146.00
Bretford ECILS3FF-BK Multimedia Cart..............$337.00
LG 60PG30FC 60” Plasma TV...........................$2660.00
Sony BDPS350 Blu-Ray Player............................$258.00
Total..............................................................$10168.00

I believe each of these devices would enable me to be a better teacher and would allow me to engage students more effectively.

Module 11 - Portfolios

Portfolios have become commonplace in recent years. The concept of a portfolio was first introduced to me during my final years at Davenport University. Each class in the new curriculum requires the student to complete a project known as an “artifact,” which is then added to the student portfolio. The intent is to create quality projects for the portfolio, which are to be used when applying for a job after graduation. This is probably one of the most common uses for a portfolio.

Because the portfolio project was started well into my college career, my portfolio is incomplete. If I had a complete portfolio, I imagine that I could use it to “sell” my skills and myself to a perspective employer. Thankfully, I’m not in the market for a new job. The textbook includes some great ideas for portfolio artifacts; items such as a professional resume, transcripts, awards or honors, letters of recommendation, and endorsements or certificates are great examples of information that one might include in a portfolio.

If I were to put together a portfolio, I would consider having the information available in both paper and electronic forms. Employers are eager to have information available in a digital format for quick access and sharing documentation within the office.