Within the class I observe there are numerous forms of technology all of which are incorporated into daily lessons. My mentor teacher utilizes technology throughout their teaching, in an effort to incorporate multiple styles of teaching in an effort to reach the various learning styles within each class. Within the classroom and within lessons, both my mentor and I teacher utilize the: computer, laptop, speaker, projector, screen, and classroom printer. The classroom also has an 'ELMO,' which is a digital visual presenter in which we can display a paper document or artifact that then can be electronically displayed on the projector. From my observations and from my own teaching the projector and laptop are incorporated daily within lessons to display videos, PowerPoints, and assignments. Additionally, Schoology is a major learning and teaching tool that this school, as well as all schools within the district, utilize. Now within the school, due to the global pandemic, teachers are required to post all teaching materials on Schoology as well. The high school also provides chromebooks to all students, which they are permitted to take home and keep for all four years of school.

The school provides a DELL laptop and a DELL monitor for teachers to implement within their teaching and utilize both within school and outside of school. Teachers can then connect their laptops to their projectors and display their lessons. Teachers also have the ability to split their screen and display on one screen while working on another screen. Additionally, the split-screen has been beneficial for students who are learning from home due to COVID, they can view the screen while keeping their privacy. In this modern day and age computers are an essential component with teaching, as well as communicating with students and staff. Displayed are the school provided DELL laptop, DELL monitor, HP keyboard, remote for the screen projector, as well as my mentor teacher’s harddrive that contains all of their important files pertaining to teaching.   

Pictured above are the classroom projector and the projector screen. The projector screen is located front and center of the classroom, so that all students can easily view from it. Studens’ desks are divided in half, with half of the desks with three rows on the left of the classroom and three rows of desks on the right of the classroom; the projector being in the middle where no desks or students for that matter can block one another’s view of the screen. The projector is then connected to the computer monitor and displayed on the large screen so that students within any location of the classroom should be able to see the screen. My mentor teacher specifically selected the projector and screen as opposed to other forms of visual technology, such as the SMARTboard, because of how large the projector screen is. The projector and screen were essential to my Lesson #1. I practically used the projector within my whole lesson, such as for displaying the YouTube videos and my PowerPoint for my lecture portion.

Pictured above is the audio system and speaker that is connected to the computer. These technological devices enhance the volume for audio presentations. The speaker is larger so that students may hear more easily, especially since there is not one attached to the projector or screen. The control system is located in the back left of the classroom behind the teacher’s desk so that they may control the volume for videos. The speaker is, ironically, directly in front of the teachers desk. Typically, students watch at least one video within each class, which is displayed on the projector screen, and therefore this is another essential technological device within the classroom. Specifically within my Lesson #1, I incorporated the speaker system when I played two introductory YouTube videos for my “3-2-1” Learning Activity.

Now this artifact is not a school provided device, but one purchased by my mentor teacher. The classroom is in the basement, far from the teacher lounge where the larger main copy and printer machine is located. So in an effort to save time my teacher uses this printer to make copies of documents, such as primary or secondary sources, school forms, learning activities, etc. This printer is located in the front right of the classroom. Within my own Lesson #1 I printed and made copies of the document “Gerald Ford, 38th President, Dies at 93,” which we read collaboratively as a class, taking turns reading.