I was recently asked by the chair of the education department at a local university to create a list of technology tools that should be included in a “21st Century Classroom.” Our IT-Ed Services team brainstormed and came up with the following list. What would you add? -Nancy
Technology for a 21st Century Classroom
The room itself should be a flexible learning space, with the ability to re-configure furniture and equipment based on student need. Further, the entire school should be a flexible learning space, with the ability to re-purpose any room, combine classes, or create small collaborative work space for students.
Classroom Environment Needs:
- Wireless connection
- Sufficient bandwidth
- Sufficient electrical outlets
- Sufficient storage for multimedia projects (may be handled at the district level)
Basic Classroom Technology
- Projector
- Document Camera
- Classroom response system (“Clickers”) – unless all students have their own digital device (see below)
- Classroom management System – such as Moodle – moving toward “Flipped Classroom”, blended learning and personalized learning
- Electronic Portfolio software/storage system – helping students prepare for changes to college application processes and building a “positive digital footprint”
- Access to digital resources (through the library)
- Ebooks/etextbooks
- Databases
- Organized databases of primary sources
- Journal/newspaper and scholarly works
- Educational Digital Videos/Simulations to include 3D Technology
- Access to Web 2.0 Tools for collaboration and communication
- Skype
- Wikis
- Google Docs/Apps
- Blogs
Teacher Technology Needs
- Laptop – preferably a tablet
Student technology Needs:
- Personal Digital Device – this could be a netbook, iPad, iPodtouch, tablet, or their own cell phone. This eliminates the need for some kind of classroom response system
- Digital cameras and digital video cameras for student use in projects
- Headsets/microphones for podcasting, Skyping
Innovations In Education 