ILP Participation- FSU Tech Sandbox

During class a few weeks ago we took a tour to see the FSU Tech Sandbox which was located in the education building. I didn't realize how much technology was available so close to where I take my education classes. I found all of the technology to be super interesting and didn't know that all of it even existed. I thought it was cool to be able to use different forms of technology such as Smartboards, 3D printers, audio games for the children, and Google glasses. I hope in my future teaching career that this will all be provided for me to use in the classroom. 

The one thing that I thought was really cool was the Smartboard. I am very familiar with Smartboards but after the Sandbox Tour I learned a lot more than I already knew. I really like how hands on it allows students to be, and I also like how interactive it allows the students to be. I like how you can use a Smartboard to paste 3D images, and how you're able to use your finger while working with it, but also a pen. I think that 3D pictures can be really helpful for specific classes. 

I also found the Google Glasses to be awesome as well. It really shocks me with what our world is coming to and instead of writing and taking down notes, you can record them with these glasses. These glasses could be incredibly useful for students with disabilities especially who aren't able to copy down notes as fast or write properly. 

One of the technologies that I don't see being as useful for my future teaching career would probably be the Google glasses. Even though I found them to be really cool, I think that there still needs to be a lot of work done with the device to make it better. The guy giving us the tour and showing us all the different kinds of devices told us that they weren't really that liable and that they run out of charge easily. I also remember playing with the glasses and not really knowing how to get them working. 

Overall, I didn't know what to expect before the Sandbox Tour. I didn't know that all of these different technologies existed and I am still in awe with how our world is advancing day by day. I really enjoyed the tour, and I can't wait to see what other forms of technology are to come!

Here is a picture of a 3D printer, like the one they showed us on the tour.