Traditional technologies ( overhead projectors, desktop and laptop computers, scanners, interactive whiteboard) and emerging technologies like WiFi and Web 2.0 can bring a lot in teaching and learning. In an History class for instance, a student can walk to the next classroom with a wireless laptop to interview a Japanese student about his country he is actually studying. No need to stay in one place to have internet connection, no need of cables. A smartphone also allows to do a lot, using wireless technology.
Many web 2.0 technologies can destroy the old barriers to learning. With Facebook,a worldwide social networking service, Geography and History students can communicate with students in other countries to share ideas and enrich their research project. They can create wikis to work on group projects. With virtual reality environment, they can visit museums, historical sites they would never see otherwise. Photosharing websites can allow to share pictures of monuments, personalities, with other learners. They have the possibility to listen to a teacher's lecture through podcast and keep records, calendars, journals in blogs.

Before, during and after using any technology in their classroom, teachers need to do a formative and a summative evaluation of the used technology. Formative evaluation, done at an early stage, is about reflecting on the skills needed and the necessity to provide training or not for the new technology. It's also about receiving the equipment in a timely manner and the effective incorporation in the classroom. Later, a summative evaluation will assess the improvement brought by the new item in technology skills, instruction delivery, students' performance and motivation.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za0SoaGQsYg