Classroom Technology Fundraiser

Welcome to the classroom technology fundraiser blog.  This blog is designed to help assist our local PTA in helping provide new and innovative technology in the classroom.  The efforts being made with the use of this blog is to get parents, teachers, students, and companies in the community excited about the new technology that's available for implementation of classroom curriculum.  Parents and students are asked to take part in helping spread awareness of the need for new updated innovative technology to be placed in our current and future classrooms.

In today's workforce, technology is the key to getting and maintaining a job.  Most jobs have some sort of technology component that the employee must learn how to successfully use.

The implementation of new technology in the classroom would help establish a base foundation of
knowledge in new technology.  Some ideas of technology or software that is vital to teaching in today's classroom are: Microsoft word, excel spreadsheet, power point presentations, overhead projector use for presentations, LCD projectors for whole class instruction, Elmo's for direct instruction, and smart boards for help with student interaction.  All of these software or technology items are essential in helping student get a jump start in today's society.

There are two types of technologies that would enhance and better support student learning in my
classroom.

1.  Computers with Microsoft Power Point:  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/

Microsoft Power Point software is a program designed to create and implement presentations.  A
computer is used to run the program.  Power Point is a tool that is an essential technology tool that is used to teach student how to appropriately write, organize, and share information via a presentation style format.  Power point is a main program that is used in every college in the US and is also a program that many businesses use to help with training and presentations of data and materials to be learned.

2.  Computer laptops: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/cs/home_d.html  

The use of a computer is the main type of technology used in any type of business.  Computers are used in mechanics, education, sales, etc.  My classroom would benefit from having a laptop computer lab.  These computers would beprogrammed only for educational use and blocked from any type of inappropriate or non-educational content.  This computer lab would go perfectly with the computer software program Microsoft Power Point that I mentionedabove.  It would also have other various programs that are the "staples" of businesses around the world.  Having these laptops, would benefit the students by creating a technology base for each of them to expand on for post secondary education and career exploration.

In conclusion, it is my goal in using this blog to communicate with parents, teachers, students, and local businesses the need for technology in the classroom.  It is also my desire to help bring awareness to the cost of these pieces of technologies and how we can all help support the fundraising efforts of our PTA.  

Thank you for taking time to read m y blog.

Sincerely,

Heather Mendel

Special Education Teacher 

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching,

DISCLAIMER:  This blog is an assigment for an educational course at National University.  It is not a real fundraising blog.