Gizmos & Gadgets Ed Tech Kickoff Workshop Virginia Appuhn Carbondale Community High School January 19 th, 2005.

Gizmos & GadgetsEd Tech Kickoff WorkshopVirginia Appuhn

Carbondale Community High School

January 19th, 2005

Topics

Scanners Printers Flash drives Media Cards & Card Readers Digital Cameras TV Viewers Wireless mouse or keyboard PDAs & other things Rechargeable batteries

Scanners

Connect via USB

Flatbed should have adjustable top to allow book scanning.

Don’t rely on OCR software to scan documents to be edited.

Don’t press down on scanner!

Prices range $50 to $500

Current good Office Max sale: HP ScanJet 2400 for $50.

Will need to purchase USB cable.

Inkjet Printers

Low-end Inkjets start at $30-$40

Come with starter ink cartridge.

Buy extra cartridges right away (cost as much as printer).

Higher-end inkjets range from $80 to $250

Usually cost per print is better.

Some are for photo printing.

Some have built-in media card readers for direct printing from camera

Laser Printers - Personal

HP LaserJet - $200

Brother Laser $100

Buy extra ink cartridge and will need USB cable.

Not designed for networked printing.

Printer/Scanner Combo

Price range $100 to $250

May have limited scanner ability (lid may not adjust)

Can act as copier but would use up ink

Flash Drives

Also known as Pen Drives Thumb Drives Pocket Drives USB Drives

Great option to replace floppy disks.

Many students are using them now.

Can attach to lanyard or keychain.

Require no internal power – uses USB.

Rewriteable

Flash Drives

Pricing: $10 and up depending on capacity.

Wal-Mart has generic 128Mb for $15

Make sure it will fit your computer.

Automatically configures on Windows 2000 and XP. Win98 requires driver.

Media Cards

Very common in cameras, PDAs, etc.

Many different types. Retains files without

power Most priced $30-$80 Rewriteable Wal-Mart has 64Mb

SD Card for $15

Media Cards Sony Memory Stick - Used in

Sony Clie & cameras

SD Card (Secure Digital)

very common

SmartMedia (fragile) CompactFlash xTreme DigitalOlympus Cameras

Media Card Readers

Priced $10 to $50 Often have rebates Connect via USB Can purchase for one

type only, or to read multiple types of cards.

Some new computers or printers have built-in readers.

Media Card Readers

Will create drive mappings when connected.

May conflict with other drive mappings on your computer.

Be careful when inserting cards – watch orientation.

Digital Cameras

Low-End Cameras Price range $30-$100 No zoom Manual focus Limited flash Usually no viewscreen Might have memory

card option Good for student use Easy to use Download via USB

Some may double as a webcam.

Without a card, photos are lost if battery is dead.

Medium Digital Cameras

Price range $100 - $200 or so.Has 3X Optical ZoomHas memory card option (may

come with one)Auto-focus and flashMay take videos alsoHas viewscreenFairly easy to useDownload via USB or from card

$130 Olympus camera

Other Digital Cameras

Sony Mavica Camera that uses floppy disk – very easy to use and excellent battery life.

$300 and up.

Higher end cameras: over $200

10-12X Optical Zoom

Sometimes Complicated to use.

TV Viewer (Photo Album)

•Will display photos from media card on TV

•Can read many card types.

•Some will play music or video files.

•Can be connected to computer also.

Price Range $30 - $80

Other Stuff:

Wireless mouse $30 Wireless keyboard

$30 Wireless remote

presenter $50 PDAs $100 - $600 Camera/Printer

package $200-$300

MP3 Player/FM Tuner/Recorder

Price range $100 to $300

Rechargeable Batteries

Needed for cameras Be sure to check device

for correct size and type Sony cameras have

excellent rechargeable batteries

Price range for AA charger and 4 batteries $25 - $40.

Product Mail-in Rebates

Be sure to send them in by the deadlineYou need the UPC symbol from the

packageMay only be able to get one per buyer –

so may be a problem for multiple purchases for one school.

Final Notes:

Make sure the gizmo or gadget will work with your computer.

Best pricing on these items are often sales at OfficeMax, Staples, or Best Buy.

If you buy anything, a newer better model will be out within the next month.

You and your students will enjoy working with any of these gizmos or gadgets.