Technology
Technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. Most people think of technology as items like a computer and software, cars, pesticides and microwave ovens. Is technology more than just products? What do you think?
Technology in the classroom
The following is a list of possible technologies to help with the race and to complete your tasks:
Global Positioning System (GPS) to understand how a satellite based navigation system works.
Inspirations/kidspiration software for mind/concept mapping/brainstorming.
Hand held computers for journaling and exchanging information between students.
Power Point software for presenting information.
Digital Cameras and video cameras for documentation.
Word Processing software for creating letters and journaling.
Internet for conducting research.
E-mail for contacting experts
You can create class, group, or personal e-mail accounts through one of the free e-mail services available online. Students and teachers can work together to contact leatherback turtle experts. Teachers and students should review the school Internet acceptable use policy for online communications. If your school district is reluctant or does not allow students to have personal email accounts without monitoring the content of their messages, teachers can set up an email account specific to the class. Students and teachers can setup a specific email folder on the school’s network for all written communication to be stored. Teachers can then copy students’ work into an email message, after carefully evaluating the content for accuracy and grammar, to send to the expert.
Through e-pal services, or other professional services, find a class in another location that will exchange e-mail with your students about the race. Another free e-mail service can be found at: Gaggle.net
Use of school network
Utilize your school network for storing and sharing information in electronic folders.
Use software for creating WebQuest or Electronic Portfolios.
Send electronic thank you cards to people who helped your class with the race. There are many e-card services online.
Create artwork on your computer’s paint program or using other electronic graphic software. Post your artwork on your district’s website or set it as a desktop wallpaper on your personal computer.
Hold a leatherback sea turtle electronic art contest or an art auction in your school.
Students and teachers can send us great Internet sites that you may discover during the Great turtle Race. We can share them on our resource page. Send to: jhenry@eirc.org
Download articles and information on leatherback sea turtles onto a handheld computer. Read stories and beam the stories and your reflective comments to other students or teachers.
Take Digital Camera pictures around your town of nature, upload to a computer, write stories about the pictures and post results on district webpage.
If your school has Videoconferencing equipment, conduct a distance learning session with another school or a professional agency.
Use Listening, Writing, and Keyboarding skills to type information into a text-to-voice software to build skills in writing, listening, and keyboarding . Students can participate in a text-to-voice debate where each student on a computer has to type into the text-to-voice program a comment on leatherback turtles after listening to a question provided by the teacher or another student. After they write a response, students can playback what they wrote one at a time. Other students will listen and have an opportunity to respond and playback their comments. No talking allowed.
Use online dictionaries to check the spelling and definitions of words.
