Reaching Beyond Pen and Paper :: Essays Papers

grasp Beyond Pen and PaperLearning in school is eer a given. When students be taught a subject they are eventually tried and true on the teaching intimate. Most instructors commit tests, handouts or papers as methods of evaluating how much a student has learned in their course. With the development of applied science and the increasing amount of internet access that most classrooms devote, teachers are flat thinking outside the box and coming up with new shipway to assess their students. Creating web pages and using online tools such as Blackboard are some of the ways teachers can have students present training they have learned. These methods are being used more often as technology grows. Though these alternative ways of assessments run intom to benefit teachers, they benefit students as well. Allowing students to be more creative when completing assignments ensures their enjoyment and likelihood to do better.In 1994 Duke Universitys Department of Biochemical Engineer ing initiated its first use of infrared (IR) net pull ining. The classroom became completely wireless without a physical novelty to the room. Each student had to purchase a PowerBook to be able to get into in the classroom discussions and projects. The professor also had a PowerBook with a course of instruction called Timbuktu installed on it, which allowed him to access any students computer screen and project the information seen onto a screen that the whole class could see. The program also allowed the teacher complete control of the students keyboard and trackball. Through use of the IR network, the class could work on group projects more easily because they would be working though one computer. The system opened more opportunities for students to learn information effectively. For example, if a student had a problem or question about the information being learned in the class, they would simply raise their hand, the teacher would grant the name from a menu bar, and instantl y the whole class would see the students computer screen projected on the forged screen. With the whole class being able to see the problem or question an individual had, they could all collaboratively help or learn from the problem. The teacher could address the question to the class and the students could help each other out.The IR network system allowed the classroom to become completely paperless. Without the hassle of handouts, look into papers, and paper tests, the professor could concentrate on the information being learned by his students.