up front | technology
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28 BACK TO SCHOOL | FALL 2019
TOOLS FOR THE CLASSROOM
High-tech devices boost learning to new levels Laptops continue to rule as the digital device most used by teachers in classrooms, but when it comes to tablets, more instructors are turning to the iPad. Apple’s strength comes on the creative side, helped by a library of some 200,000 education and reference apps. Some of the most popular devices are those that place a digital, interactive spin on the classic chalkboard. Here are some useful gadgets and apps teachers recommend: uTeachers can use the iPad to enrich lessons with sound and motion, using a range of interactive tools to bring added dimensions to classroom learning. Starting at $299 for those who qualify for an education discount; $329 for others, apple.com uTurn your Apple device into a teaching tool with the DBPower projector that shares digital content from your iPhone and iPad. $60, amazon.com uA powerful teaching aid, the Socrates Learning Platform guides students through thousands of educational topics with individual learning paths to meet specific student needs. Classroom summer school edition $39.99, withsocrates.com uThe interactive Promethean Board acts as an oversized digital computer screen that allows students to create and manage images, lead online explorations or collaborate on visual projects. Starting at $1,000, prometheanworld.com uMicroduino, small electronic building blocks, empower kids to assemble robots, solve problems and explore imaginatively. Starting at $89, microduinoinc.com — Adam Stone and Edward C. Baig
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