Holly Kohl
2/12/11
per. 3/4
Tech Essay
Not working hard enough is the usual response from parents about a child's poor grades, but what if that isn't the case at all? Many kids worldwide are flunking or struggling in school because of the lack of much desired help. If I could create a new form of technology to make the classroom a better place, it would be an electronic, hands-on source of help for kids in any grade in any subject. This device would not only have amazing features, but it would be extremely useful in the classroom and help out students and teachers in so many different ways.
Imagine having all your notebooks, textbooks, lessons, and worksheets digitally programmed into a subject organized hand held; pretty neat right? This device would be the ultimate source of help for students in any grade or subject. It would resemble an IPad, small and slim, and would also contain apps of every subject needed. In these apps, there would be a list of possible selections including: lessons, notebooks, textbooks, worksheets, finished work, tests and quizzes, and grade reports. In seconds you could be flipping through pages of your textbook, reviewing notes and lessons, checking your grades, and many more. There would also be an option in the Language Arts app for typing up essays. Of course the teacher's would be slightly different; including answer keys, attendance check, and a class list allowing he or she to monitor all of the students' devices. The teacher could send worksheets to the students, which would appear in their "worksheets" option on their own device. They would then use a specially made pen to complete the assignment. After the work is done, the students would send it back to the teacher's device to be graded. With so many fantastic features, this device could be used in classrooms in tons of ways.
Completing work, typing essays, and reviewing notes and lessons are all examples of the uses of this device. With a special pen you can write in the answers to your homework like normal, except no paper and sharpening pencils. After you complete the assignment, you can simply send it off to your teacher right then and there. Absolutely no hassle is involved. If you are having trouble filling out the answers you can go the notes or lessons option to review what was learned that day. Also, instead of taking time for everyone to get in a line and quietly walk down to the computer lab, this device allows you to type essays in the Language Arts app. An on-screen key board would appear and the students would type their essays like usual. Although, these are just a few uses out of the thousands of uses available on this device.
This device would help students and teachers as well by keeping students organized, eliminating the duty to get a class worth of copies of worksheets, and allowing students to look back in notes and lessons when confused. With no papers to keep track of and everything organized by subject, students are no longer messy with their school materials. Teachers also don't have to run to the copy room to make copies of worksheets for the entire class. They would now be able to send the worksheet or lesson straight to the students' devices like an email. This would be easier on the teacher and eventually save a ton of paper. Also, students could look back at lessons and their notes when they don't understand an assignment. That would really help out the teacher as well instead of repeating him or herself over and over again. Over all, this device would help teachers and students in many ways.
In result, this device would help kids and teachers with many different things. If it were to be created, students would be more organized and have sources to look back at, and teachers would be able to save time by sending worksheets to the class electronically. We would save paper and the environment which is so important as well. We just can't keep using beat up, old text books, or continue wasting paper, schools need modern technology!