Destination xtv 366
(Gateway) $1999 www.gateway.com
* a multimedia system: Intel Celeron 366 MHz w/ 128K cache, 32 MB RAM,
27” monitor with speakers, ATI graphics accelerator, cable ready, 4.3 GB
hard drive, 6X DVD ROM drive, wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, Sound
Blaster card, 3COM PCI network card.
Above all, this IT is an effective way to provide a large group viewing experience with a minimum amount of setup. Presently, my school has an LCD projector for the teachers to use in their classrooms but the setup is complicated and time consuming. They’ are not eager to set it up on their own and the end result has cables running around the front of the room, not an ideal situation. On the other hand, the Destination contains a network card, which will enable the classroom teacher to effortlessly plug one small cord into the network connection. He will then be able to access any of the programs on the school wide LAN. Of concern will be the adjustment period required for mastering a wireless mouse and keyboard. Perhaps it would be wise to add a conventional keyboard and mouse in case of user frustration. By the way, I just ordered the Destination package!
*
a digital camera which stores the images on a floppy disk, 2.5 inch LCD
with a brightness control for daylight viewing, 640 by 480 pixel resolution,
6 subject settings, long battery life with timer provided, 10:1 optical
zoom lens with auto/manual focus ring.
As a veteran of both
an Agfa and a Casio camera, the concept of saving images on a floppy disk
was appealing to me. The other cameras required the users to find
the computer with the appropriate software to download the images.
If the computer was busy, then they were out of luck at that moment.
Also the hard drive of the local lab computer filled up fast with all of
the images. I tested the Mavica with several techie and non-techie
teachers and they were thrilled! My only concern is the expense of
this camera. Our Agfa Camera was accidentally dropped and ultimately
broken so I do have concerns about multi-users carefully handling the tool.
This concern leads into my next tool….
JamCam Digital Camera
$89 www.kbgear.com
*a
portable 640 x 480 resolution, stores up to 26 pictures in VGA format,
Microsoft
PictureIt 99 is included.
This portable camera
seems like a "must have" for schools for field trips and other jaunts.
On the other hand, I am constantly reminded of the motto, “you get what
you pay for.” My main concern would be the quality and durability
of the camera. However, if only $89 had been spent then it wouldn’t
be a major loss and could be easily replaced. Also, the quality
of the pictures is up for debate, although the 640 x 480 resolution IS
surpising the same as the Sony Mavica camera. If the goal is
to get the technology in the hands of the students and teachers this could
be a tool! One note... in August, I visited the website to
find that there was such a high demand for the camera that they were back
ordered, so obviously it's a popular idea. Furthermore, the camera
was favorably reviewed by the Chicago Tribune's resident techie
guru, James Coates and featured as a new product in the August edition
of FamilyPC.
KidPix Studio Deluxe
http://www.broder.com/education/programs/kidpix/deluxe/home.html
*
the favorite kid’s graphic program all new and improved
I have used Kid Pix
since the dark ages. It’s a marvelous graphics program that has lots
of possibilities for all ages. In my school district, it is used
from kindergarten through eighth grade. This newest version
provides (1) more “kid oriented clip art,” including maps of the 50 states
and the countries of the world, (2) cutouts that can be printed to make
crowns, puppets, and stand ups for dioramas, (3) background scenes of common,
exotic, and fantasy locations to be used with the rubber stamps or drawn
upon, and pictures of the presidents and other historical scenes.
Another new feature is speech, so the program can act as a talking word
processor in both Spanish and English. Broderbund Software seems
to be making this program better and better. My only concern would be the
cost of another site license for this program. However, it is easier
to rationalize such a cost when it can be used across the grade levels.
The mission statement of this site is "part of a cyber-corporation dedicated to creating an online forum in which to display the finest learning resources, latest technologies, and emerging philosophies of education. " Some of the hot links include (1) What's New - virtual field trips to the desert, oceans, hurricanes, sharks, tornadoes and volcanoes. Other trips, in the works, are listed as well. The format of each trip covers a "getting ready" section, terms and concept questions; (2) the Third Millennium Classroom - Curriculum Boosters: lesson plans on physics, Hurricane Bracey, plus others, and Starter Kits which is an excellent listing of sites from the Internet, including the Busy Teacher's Website; (3) E-mail Mentoring; (4) Special Education and (6) Internet Report Cards - how well the nation's schools are doing in integrating the Internet into the curriculum. This web offering seems to provide an extensive listing of information relevant to my CTER studies. In addition, I found in the Curriculum Busters section a cross curricular unit on Early Europe, which incorporates study in language arts (Latin), science and mathematics, music, and art (a perfect fit for our sixth grade curriculum). My only complaint involves the fact the reader has to scroll back and forth across the screen to take in all the information. Other than that negative, there are few graphics which means the site doesn't take long to appear on the screen. I look forward to mining this site.
Note...all graphics on this page were obtained from the websites listed by each IT.
