Chapter 1- short answers

1. Name two advances or developments that have occurred in technology since the 1970s that you feel have had significant effects on education, and explain why these technological changes had such effects.
In the late 1970’s the invention of the microcomputers changed everything. Now computers were placed in the hands of teachers and schools allowing for information to become more widely available.
Then in 1994 the world wide web was born (www). This allowed for text and graphics to be seen through a computer screen. I believe this had a significant effect on education because this allowed for students to do research on their own personal computers and on their own time. The world wide web had such an affect on technology because it allowed for availability of information to be easier.

2. Discuss one emerging trend in technology and the effect it could have on classrooms and schools.
I believe that the emerging trend of wireless connectivity would have a huge impact on classrooms and schools because it would allow for students to be able to bring their labtops to school to take notes. Also, schools could have a school wide hot spot or even mobile labs. Wirless connectivity makes it easier for teachers to plan and implement the activities that they may have planned for the day. Also, it can make obtaining materials for the class or updating assessments alot easier if classrooms or schools would have wireless connectivity.

3. Explain reasons for developing an electronic portfolio.
Electronic portfolios allow for students to create a collection of their work overtime and makes it possible for themselves and others to view how their skills have developed and progressed overtime. Once the student is ready to graduate they are required to represent their portfolio which that have been working on over a various amount of time which demonstrates their level of accomplishment in their field. Instead of taking a final to pass they are required to present their portfolio. Teachers can also chose from several kinds of resources for these structures whether it be ready made, PDF-document, multimedia authoring software, databases, websites, and videos.