Tech Tools For Teaching: 3 Teaching Peripherals and How to Use Them.

At a recent conference, I passed by a room where the presenter was offering a crash course on educational peripherals and tools that teachers may use in the music field. Unfortunately, since I was working the event, I was unable to stop in to do some research. That got me thinking: what sort of peripherals might I have access to when I enter the schools? If I am to assume that when I enter a classroom I will have decently updated equipment, I have chosen three interactive  tools and highlighted to some of their best uses in the classroom.

1 - Smart Boards

Makers - Smart-Technologies, Promethean, etc.

Most college students have most likely used a smart board type of interactive whiteboard. While in our classroom it serves more as a traditional whiteboard, the number of uses is really limitless. The main draw of these boards is their easy interactive nature; in a perfect world, a smart board is the type of tool that can be walked right up to and used. Here are a few other advertised uses for smart boards:

• Slide Shows
• Drawing and Editing Photographs (I.E. circling locations on maps, showing key points of a picture, etc).
• Videos/Photo Presentations
• Music video/other musical media viewing. 
• Notation study/composition.

2 - Ipad/Tablets

Makers - Almost all major technology providers.

In the modern age, many students have access to handheld technological peripherals like Ipads and Tablet PCs. These tools are multi-faceted and allow access to all sorts of different tools, both internal and through the use of apps. Here are just a few facets and uses of a handheld touch device.

• Personal, 1 to 1 ownership and responsibility.
• Technology that students can bring home.
• Decent camera and photo tools.
• Access to educational apps.
• Mobile access to internet tools.
• Quick sharing from tablet to tablet.
• Composition tools (garageband, fruity loops, etc)
• Playing tools (e-guitars, pianos, etc).

3 - Personal Devices

Makers - Samsung, Apple, LG, etc.

If there was any tool that most students have access to, it is their personal electronic devices. While it may take some careful coordination in order to get students using their phones appropriately, it can be used as a tool to further student's learning on the go. With similar uses to tablet computers, it is easy to see how useful personal devices my be.