S'Cool Tools Article

            The author of this article, Maureen Yoder, creates an mixed list of resources that could be used in the classroom to increase the level of interest among students of different grade levels. Before something could make her list, she asked if the resource could improve teaching, whether it was easy to learn or a supported program, and whether or not the program was innovative in its field of study. The first resource, the Lego Education WeDo Robotics Construction Set, is useful for younger students, such as the Kindergarten level, to "prepare them to better understand more complex theories later on." The students use the peices of the resource to create objects from an alligator to an airplane using different pieces of technology to simulate sound and movement.
           Another resource is an innovation that is starting to be seen more and more in the schools that can afford them: smart tables. Similar to electronic whiteboards, teachers can use these boards for interactive group assignments with the students. Another resource, the AVer Pen, has similar capabilities as the smart table, but is much more portable. One of the things I really like about it is that you can actually project a presentation or image on any surface in the room without needing a bulky machine to do it for you. I also really like how the article states that "a teacher's pen can interact with up to six student pens simultaniously," meaning an interesting way for teachers to create lesson plans that involve the students.
           Another resource is one that, as far as I have heard, has been largely associated with electronic games. Apparently Second Life, a virtual world where people can create an electronic alter-ego has been used in the classroom to help teacher anything from ethics to science, with the example of a competition being held where students created their own solar system and society. I think that this would be an awesome way to grab the attention of the students, where they can actually create their own setting of learning and how that can be incorporated into the classroom. However, I would be worried about the technology that would be required to run such programs in some schools, as well as the ability to work on it outside of the classroom.
          The finial resource discussed is one that we ourselves have been using in the class: Google Apps. Being able to share presentations, information, and keep in contact with our peers and professors. It is also a resource the the educator, as they will be able to stay in contact with other teachers, and to share their ideas and lessons that had a positive impact on the students.
          I believe that these resources cover the breadth of the NETS standards that are important for students and educators. The Lego product alone covers numbers 1, 2, and 6 with its focus on creativity, the need to communicate with one's peers, and the need to understand and use a new kind of technology. The Second Life resource covers numbers 1, 3, 4, and 6 if put in context of the competition to create a solr system, where students would need to know how to use the system as well as research the history and science behind the creation of a solar body.

Yoder, M. (2009-2010, November). S'Cool Tools: 5 Great Tools to Perk Up Your Classroom and Engage Your Students. Learning and Leading with Teachnology, 37 (3). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/NovemberNo3/L_L_November_2009.htm