What's the best technology product for less than $100?
by Edutopia Staff
May 23, 2008
Credit: Getty Images
We're pleasantly surprised at the amount of high tech material out there for less than $100 -- portable hard drives, boom boxes, graphing calculators, even brand-new iPod shuffles [2] -- all of which teachers and students can harness for engaging (or at least useful) classroom activities.
A typical 1 GB USB flash drive, for instance, costs roughly $20-$30 these days, making it an increasingly indispensable way to transfer and back up files and projects. "You can back up anything from worksheet files to PowerPoint presentations to videos," wrote one respondent. One user, perhaps a bit uncertainly, whispered, "Cell phone," throwing a ray of light onto the dark classroom war raging against these devices.
Other thrifty choices: Scope-on-a-Rope [3] (a handheld microscope camera), Audacity [4] (free sound-editing software), DVD players, and, of course, the token (but oh-so-necessary) pencil.
What do you think? Weigh in on the results.
Links:
[1] http://www.edutopia.org/edutopia-staff
[2] http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle
[3] http://www.scopeonarope.lsu.edu
[4] http://audacity.sourceforge.net
[5] http://www.edutopia.org/node/5511/results
[6] http://www.edutopia.org/readers-survey-2008
[7] http://www.edutopia.org/best-blog-educators-2008
[8] http://www.edutopia.org/best-educational-podcast-2008
[9] http://www.edutopia.org/best-virtual-field-trip-2008
[10] http://www.edutopia.org/best-site-download-free-lessons-2008
[11] http://www.edutopia.org/best-site-grant-information-2008
[12] http://www.edutopia.org/best-technology-tool-students-2008
[13] http://www.edutopia.org/best-education-software-2008
[14] http://www.edutopia.org/amount-spend-classroom-supplies-2008
[15] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-get-need-classroom-2008
[16] http://www.edutopia.org/best-public-advocate-education-role-model-2008
[17] http://www.edutopia.org/best-new-book-education-2008
[18] http://www.edutopia.org/top-concern-parents-2008
[19] http://www.edutopia.org/top-concern-teachers-2008
[20] http://www.edutopia.org/what-missing-degree-certification-program-2008
[21] http://www.edutopia.org/who-teach-class-day-2008
[22] http://www.edutopia.org/subject-should-be-taught-2008
[23] http://www.edutopia.org/new-teachers-burning-out-2008
[24] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-find-inspiration-2008
[25] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-create-educational-community-2008