Exciting New Technologies
Dynamic Landscapes, May 19, 2006

There are many software and hardware "add-ons" that teachers can use to enhance student learning.  Here's a list of several.

  Item Information Price Source/Vendor Mac or Win
Sound: Sound recording can be particularly challenging.  Here are several devices that can help.
  Basic Computer Microphone   < $10   Mac or Win
  Noise-Cancelling Microphone Plantronics PC Microphone ~ $15   Mac or Win
  Omni-directional or Uni-directional Microphone and Mini-plug Adapter   ~ $30 Radio Shack Mac or Win
  PC Animation Station
aka "Sound Morpher"
This is a portable sound recording device that can record up to 4 minutes of sound and then download it to a computer, where it can be edited $9 - $20 DigitalBlue Win
  Digital Sound Recorder   $40 + Staples Mac or Win
  Audacity Sound editing software Free SourceForge Mac or Win
  QuickTime Pro Sound (and video) editing software $30 Apple Mac or Win
Video Projection
  Video Converter TView Gold $170 Focus Enhancements Mac or Win
  Projector   ~$1400 Various Mac or Win
  Document Camera Canon RE-450X Visualizer  ~$1500 Canon Mac or Win
  SMARTBoard   ~$1400 SMART Technologies Mac or Win
  Vision Software Vision Varies GenevaLogic Win
Video Conferencing
  Logitech QuickCam Web camera $30 Logitech Win
  MSN Messenger Video conferencing software Free Microsoft Online Services Win
  Skype Video conferencing software Free Skype Mac or Win
Electronic Microscopes
  QX5 DigitalBlue ~$80  CompuVisor Mac or Win
Data Collection Probes
  PASPORT Probeware Kid-friendly data collection probes and software Varies Pasco Mac or Win
Desktop Alternatives
  Neo Portable word processor $250 AlphaSmart Mac or Win
  Dana Wireless, Palm OS portable computer $399 AlphaSmart Mac or Win
  Laptops   $1,000+ Many Vendors Mac or Win
Desktop Protection
  Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit Software Free Microsoft Win
  Protect-On Software Varies GenevaLogic Win
  DeepFreeze Software Varies Faronics Mac or Win
  CenturionGuard Hardware ~$50 CenturionTechnologies Win

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Problems or Concerns?  Email Steve Webster
Last updated 05/18/06