The idea of tools is always interesting. We are all guilty of the “toolbox building syndrome” where we collect tools because they’re neat. I’m guilty, myself. The problem is that we then get caught up in “technology because we can” and don’t necessarily make the best choices.
See My Basic Toolbox for the items *I* need to be effective.
While we do need tools — and practice in their use — the judicious selection of tools becomes one of the skills an expert needs to develop. What that usually means is trying out a lot of tools and discarding them. The larger challenge becomes in gaining the expertise in the tools so that you can incorporate them into your practice.
September 16th, 2007 at 11:58 AM
I would add some sort of audio tool to the basic toolbox. Kim Dearing has gotten me intrigued on podcasts, so I am going to research them today on my “catch up” day. Also, I completely agree with putting lecture-type software on the list of items to remove from the teacher toolbox. The whole point of integrating technology in the classroom is to move away from the traditional lecture model and make the classroom more student centered.
While reading your list about excluding PowerPoint, I think that teachers who teach Computer Applications classes need to teach their students to proper etiquette for using PowerPoint when giving presentations. Students could be given a presentation assignment and taught techniques for proper business speaking. Your list of five proper uses for PowerPoint is very nicely done.