Module 8 Hardware Cyberinquiry
Printers: HP Lexmark C762n
I chose this model because it is fast and good quality. I chose a color model so students are able to print in color if necessary. Mainly, my students would be printing out reports, internet research, and musical notation. Since it is a color printer I would establish guidelines when using color and make sure they know how to print a color selection in grayscale so that all of the color is not wasted.
Scanners:
Scanners are nice to use when saving student’s work for a digital portfolio. In my classroom, students likely would do most of their work on a computer, so a scanner may be a waste of money. It could be useful if I only had a hard copy of something and wanted to class to see it electronically.
Digital Cameras:
One way to incorporate a camera is to have students create a tutorial via powerpoint (with accompanying pictures) instructing a non-music person how to sing or play an instrument. The students would use sequential reasoning and communication skills to give their instructions. Their artistic side can show through by either modeling the steps or instructing a model in the steps needed to visually show what their instructions describe.
Another way I could incorporate cameras is to have students choose a piece of classical music, listen to it a couple of times, then go out and take photos that they feel relate to their music. They would then arrange their photos in a slide show and put the pictures to the music they selected. Students would gain technology experience while becoming familiar with a piece of classical music, and would have a creative and artistic outlet at the same time.
I think that ISTE standards would be met in both of these instances. Student learning would be benefitted in the ways I described above.
Assistive Technology
Any student would benefit from assistive technology methods, not just those who are considered special needs. Students who read at a lower level would benefit from a screen reader. Speech recognition would assist a student with a broken arm, or assist in expediting a project based more on ideas than using a computer keyboard.
CDRW or Pen Drive?
My initial thought was to go for the CDRW drive, because students may lose the pen drive. Then I thought, the could lose either, and a pen drive would definitely take more harsh treatment than a disk that could easily scratch or snap in half. I would go with the pen drive.
5 Troubleshooting Tips
1. Networking http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000445.htm
2. Printing http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000248.htm
3. Windows XP Problems http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chwinxp.htm
4. Internet Explorer http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chie.htm
5. Computer Freezes http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000700.htm