Ways to get technology into class despite budget cuts

Have students bring their own devices to class

Take a count of how many mobile devices are owned in your class. Then get permission from parents/school authorities to have kids bring these devices, maybe for just one day of the week to start with. Depending on the number, students can divide into groups and share.

Borrow an iPad2 and projector, and voila! you have an interactive whiteboard

Can you get access to an iPad2 and projector? If so, you now have an interactive whiteboard and access to 1000s of free, interactive applications. The iPad2 has a “mirroring” capability, which means that the screen will mirror anything on its display as a projection. So a student can work with a fun app on fractions while the classroom watches or you can teach using a great online resource, all from the borrowed iPad2.

Use free multimedia tools

In the article, 7 essential multimedia tools and their free alternatives, the author has listed out excellent options for some of the basic multimedia tools your students may need for their projects and reports.

Research for free apps or web resources

Offer students the option to check out which resource they want to go to look into. This can be done at home or in class. Follow up with which groups felt had the best content and why? What did they learn that other groups did not?

Get students to create an online resource of their own

If students feel the online lesson was inadequate or simply boring, how would they do it differently? Ask them to sketch a mobile educational app, or enact an online video. Give them a project that uses technology to best convey the lesson. You’ll know if they’ve learned anything, and they’ll have fun, and (who knows!) you may be able to use their self-generated material next year.

Start a used device collection drive

At some point or the other someone in your community is upgrading their device to the next best thing. What happens to their old device? It probably goes to their kids. Why not have your class start a campaign for used smartphones and tablets, which will be used in classroom. Look at how Travis Allen, Founder and President of the iSchool Initiative is getting donations, or Steve Glinberg’s iPhone/iPod touch Recycling Program.

Related posts:

1. 6 ways to use mobile learning in your class today