Why We Need Technology in the Classroom

I have not had the opportunity to work in a high-teched-out-to-the-future... or even teched-out-to-a-few-grand classroom.  

I would like to.

I hope someday I have the chance to.

But until then, here is my tech wishlist and why I want it and to what purpose I see the need for it:

1. Tablets
1. Why we need them:
1. So that students are able to engage in technologically simulated 21st Century learning
2. How it would benefit the learning experience:
1. Students would be able to use the tablets to participate in individual learning medias that will develop and enhance their learning experience
3. Uses:
1. Students could complete/view/take/do: games, apps, quizzes, tests, videos, etc
4. Factors to consider:
1. Student use and conduct
2. Safety and protection of device
3. Updates
2. A video recording device
1. Why we need it:
1. Students could watch teacher-made videos to reinforce their learning or to review points that they did no quite master in class  
2. How it would benefit the learning experience:
1. Teachers could record lessons to post on a website for student review
3. Uses:
1. Videos could be tutorials, reviews, introductions, flipped classroom lessons, etc.
4. Factors to consider:
1. Backups
2. Time commitment to recording lesson/recording new lessons
3. Platform to be shared on
4. Who can access videos
5. Any needed supplementary materials to accommodate the videos (again - time issue)
3. Large scale projector/screen
1. Why we need it:
1. To create better viewing options for students to see materials and topic being taught
2. How it would benefit the learning experience:
1. Students would be able to see the materials being taught from wherever they sat in the classroom and would not have to readjust to be able to see instructions or details = uninterpreted learning 
3. Uses:
1. Full class view
4. Factors to consider:
1. Backups
2. Updates, maintenance and service
4. Digital database that students are able to log in to
1. Why we need it:
1. Teacher would be able to track students' progress and in class participation
2. How it would benefit the learning experience:
1. The teacher would know how students are doing and be able to correctly evaluate their learning process
3. Uses:
1. Student assessment
2. Resource for developing IEPs
4. Factors to consider:
1. Backups
2. System crashes
3. Updates, maintenance and service

Tech of the future will surely enhance education and they way in which children learn, but it does not replace the teacher and the quality of time and instruction that they put in....  My 2 cents at least.