I believe that the technologies that I would choose to have in my classroom would vary on what grade level I am teaching. I believe this because, at the higher levels, there are more opportunities to integrate high-tech equipment into your daily lessons, with younger grades I believe that it is far more important to have lessons that encourage fine motor skills and creativity, not learning how to use an ipad game. With this said I will do my five based on my favorite grade, 1st grade.
Like many teachers, I believe all grades preschool-12 and above need at least one computer. This is because there are so many fun, interactive computer learning games. If not for the students, it makes tracking grades, creating worksheets and projects, and handouts easier for the teacher.
My second piece of technology is a SmartBoard. After being a substitute in the lower level grades and being able to see these boards being used correctly I am a huge supporter of them. It gets the students out of their desks and interacting with the lesson in a hands on way that is a fun way for them to learn, without them thinking that they're learning.
To go along with the computer, I believe that every classroom should have a projector. This allows the classroom to have a large surface to watch videos/movies on. While in the lower levels, movies are not frequent, they do allow for a great reward to a well behaved classroom.
Since the book lists speakers separately, I will list them separately as well. Although I do not think the need for speakers in a classroom requires an explanation it goes along with the computer and projector as a needed technology in each classroom.
As my final technology I will say I believe all lower level classrooms need a digital camera. My reasoning for this doesn't necessarily apply to the students every day learning, but instead to a personal experience that I will forever be thankful for. In first grade my teacher, Mrs. Whaite, took pictures of our entire classroom out on our field trips and at the end of the year surprised her students with a scrapbook of our classroom adventures through the year, 17 years later I still periodically look at that book and can remember the many memories that it holds. I've always told myself that if I became an elementary student that I would do something similar for my students.
Technology in the classroom doesn't always have to be the top of the line, fresh off the line brand new. It just has to be used correctly, efficiently and not as a crutch.
