GADGETS THAT MAKE CLASSROOMS SMARTER

When we think of new technology in the classroom, our minds tend automatically to go to tablets, which have been widely deployed throughout certain school districts. While that’s creating the biggest buzz, the possibilities of technology in educational environments doesn’t end there, especially not when you consider tech for teachers. We’ve compiled a list of top gadgets for teachers who are heading back to school after a holiday break

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO G2

A solid audio system can actually be an important part of teaching, especially if you’re a college professor delivering a lecture to a packed auditorium. This elegant little Bluetooth speaker boasts a full, balanced sound and can be charged over USB and the battery lasts up to 10 hours. The G2 can pick up a Wi-Fi connection from up to 25 feet away, and it’s small enough to be easily transported in a briefcase, or the tote bag it comes with.

TRUST WIRELESS PRESENTER 16661

In the past, teachers were stuck at the chalkboard or whiteboard while giving presentations, but thanks to wireless presenters, they’re now free to roam the room while executing a spot-on (literally) presentation. This impressive laser pointer fits easily in one hand, with your index finger controlling the clicks. Your thumb rests on a trackball atop the device. Best of all, you don’t need to buy any accompanying software as after pressing ‘connect’ on the USB receiver and then on the presenter you can interact wirelessly. It has 2.4 GHz wireless operation and range of up to 10 meters.

SCANSNAP SCANNER

No more cluttering your classroom desk with piles of paper and school forms – just scan and print documents whenever you need them. This portable scanner can handle 12-15 doublesided pages at a time, and even syncs with apps like Dropbox and Evernote.

MIMIO VOTE

The Mimio Vote helps teachers measure their students understanding capacity. This tool can help teachers track students progress through instant feedback and scores tallied over time. It can also be used for testing training quizzes and homework besides downloading student results into spreadsheets and lesson plans.