My dream classroom would include the following:
- Class set of laptops (preferably Mac Book Pro’s)
- Class set of iPod Touches complete with a charging station
- A Smart Board (even if they aren’t quite as nifty as they seem)
- Document Camera
- Clickers (probably SMART since I have the board)
- Surround sound speaker system (Bose would be nice!)
I guess I will stop there. I am not even going to delve into the different software and apps that I want downloaded on all the machines.
What are the chances of me having my dream classroom? Pretty slim. Okay, very slim, but I can dream. Really, it’s not about what I want because I’m not going to get it all, and even if I did, technology changes so quickly that keeping up is impossible.
The whole point here is not wishing for tools that I don’t have to use in the classroom. Dream a bit and then snap out of it. Being a good teacher is all about using what we already have. Take a minute and assess what you already have at your disposal. Talk to the principal. Talk to the school librarian. Talk to other teachers. I bet there is a much more in your school than you are aware of. One school I worked in had several sets of clickers that were still factory sealed because no one used them. I don’t even know if anyone knew they existed.
Make a list of what you can use and get after it. There’s plenty to keep you busy.
Thank you. I am both a special education teacher and the tech coach at my school. Not to rub it in, but I basically have your dream classroom. We have 7 Macbooks instead of a class set and I don’t have the surround sound. I have everything else on your list. I also have two iPads and access to 6 more. Your post makes me realize how lucky I am. I use all of this technology in an elementary school that has a poverty index of 74% and in a small rural town with literally one stop light. I hope while this comment probably makes you mad at me, it also gives you hope. I use technology each and every day and spend my planning trying to get others to do the same. The growth I’ve seen in my students due to technology incorporation has been incredible. Thank you for pointing out just how lucky my school is. I plan on sharing your post with my principal in appreciation.
I appreciate your comment Sarah. Really, when I look at how much technology I have in my own room, I am pretty lucky. Plus, I work in a district that does everything it can to push forward. Many teachers are faced with policies that hinder the use of technology, but it is the total opposite where I work. It is good to hear that you have an awesome room to work in. Make the most of it (and by the way, I would never be mad with someone as lucky as you, just a little bit jealous).