Stretching Limited Resources

The issue comes up time and again as educators brainstorm innovative technology integration ideas: limited resources. How can technology be integrated effectively into teaching and learning when there are practically no resources to purchase tools? Is technology a non-starter for cash-strapped districts and schools? Does a lack of a laptop for each student mean that whole-class projects are unworkable?

Absolutely not!

We are often tempted to think that each student must have their own computer to effectively implement a technology-infused project. But 1:1 computing, while a laudable goal, isn’t remotely necessary for student to benefit from the rich experiences that technology can offer. Consider…

Scheduling

Perhaps you have three computers in the provebial “back of the classroom.” Have you thought about how you can schedule their use to ensure that each student has ample access? If not, consider your guided reading groups and centers that you perhaps use for traditional language arts instruction. You may have a small group you work with for direct instruction while the rest of the class is divided among the completion of various activities (centers) such as reflective writing, vocabulary development, or peer editing. Why couldn’t computer use be one of those centers? It might take only 10-15 minutes for a student to write a reflective blog entry or respond to a message board prompt, meaning you could make it through half of your class in just one 60-minute language arts block. Need more time for project work? Most technology-based learning projects work better in small groups rather than individually, so resources can be stretched farther – though the occasional computer lab visit or laptop cart use certainly helps. And if you’re creating learning menu-style project lists where not every choice is technology-based, your students can engage in the kind of variety of experiences that are necessary to build a robust education without needing computer access at all times.

Software

Do you think you need high-priced software such as Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, Pagemaker, Inspiration/Kidspiration, or even Microsoft Office in order to meet student needs? Hopefully not! There is an amazing amount of free resources, both general and educationally-designed, to meet needs. Intel’s Thinking Tools, Glogster, VoiceThread, Photo Story, Movie Maker, Rubistar, Bubbl.us, ThinkQuest, Wikispaces, PBWiki, Edublogs, Weebly, TeacherTube, Google Docs, Google Earth, Picasa, SketchUp, Zoho, Bubble Share, Gcast, OpenOffice, Kerpoof… these form merely a tiny fraction of the free tools available to support your efforts. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so find the tools that best meet your needs. Then share the knowledge! Your colleagues will love you for it.

Hardware

Okay, so generally you’ll need some kind of robust computing devices to implement many of your plans, whether desktop computers, laptops, or netbooks. But what about other computing resources? There are numerous low-cost digital video cameras available such as the Flip Video line. Most of today’s digital still cameras can also capture fair-quality video. Skype, when combined with an inexpensive webcam, can provide a video-conferencing alternative to expensive Polycom systems. They can also be used for make-shift but effective document cameras when paired with a stand or tripod. $15-20 voice recorders / mp3 players obviate the need for iPods. Student cell phones that support text messaging or web browsers can get you research capabilities through Google and other sites. They can also be used as a replacement for student response systems by using such a site as Poll Everywhere.