Emergent Technologies

The technologies I explored were smart boards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_board , Skype http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype , and wikis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki .
A smart board is an interactive whiteboard that allows for teachers to use it as white board, but also as a computer. The smart board is nice because it allows for a more interesting way to do many activities. Using a smart board in the classroom could greatly impact the learning environment if used correctly. A way it could do this would be teaching students how to use a program like power point in a fun and interactive way with the smart board. A smart board would be a good way for a student to come up and show the class they understood what was being discussed because most students would find it very exciting to able to use the board.
Skype is a technology that allows telephone calls to be made over the internet. Skype would be a useful tool to enhance collaborating with classrooms room around the country. It would be extremely beneficial because the students would be able to see who they are working with it would make planning the time for the interaction than waiting for an email. This would also be a great way of having students demonstrate what they learned because they would be explaining to another person who is working on a similar subject matter.
Wikis are a way to share information. The reasons wikis are so exciting in the classroom is they are collaborative. Rather than the teacher having to go in update the information every day the students are able to go on share information. It not only saves the teacher time by giving students the opportunity to update it, but gives the students a chance to articulate what they have learned in an informative and professional way for other people.