Kids used to go to school and write on chalkboards with chalk that crumbled into white powder, watch filmstrips and 16mm movies, and pass paper notes to each other when they were bored. Now, they write on dry-erase boards and electronic whiteboards, use computers for all kinds of educational activities, watch DVDs projected on a screen, and text each other when they’re bored. Times have changed, and technology has changed too. Kids today are used to seeing things on a screen and interacting with virtually created worlds. They’re much more visually oriented than previous generations.
That’s why schools have rethought how they need to teach kids. Teachers move beyond paper textbooks and design computer games that teach them how to calculate math problems and form grammatically correct sentences. Kids today often learn better if they can see and interact with a subject on a computer like they do with games and the internet at home.
Many textbooks today do come with CDs or DVDs. But what about using a more versatile type of technology that’s smaller and allows you to write to it? Textbook publishers could supplement their books with flash drives that contain activities, movie clips, pictures, extra explanations, and links to online resources. In fact, a publishing company could sell an entire line of USB drives along with the books that they sell for each subject.
The math flash drive could contain extra problems to work through and pictures of blocks and other objects used to show adding and subtracting. A video clip could show moving pieces of candy to different piles to add and subtract. There could also be links to websites with math games.
The science flash drive could show videos of fun experiments. For example, it could show a scientist combining chemicals to create a bright and colorful explosion. It could show large metal gears turning together to operate a big piece of machinery. Another section could provide instructions for experiments a student could do himself with pictures demonstrating how to do them. For example, it could show how to use magnets and iron filings. There could also be links to exciting science websites like NASA’s kid section and various museums.
CFgear can help to design custom bulk flash drives made to do what you want. They can help a textbook publisher design a custom layout for a particular subject that provides links to the various sections like videos, activities, websites, etc. They can also imprint a logo or text on each drive in up to four colors. It could say the name of the textbook publisher and the subject.
An English flash drive would have example sentences to correct and videos talking about the parts of speech. It could have links to games teaching kids to diagram sentences and play with words.
The possibilities are endless and stop with the creativity of a writer and a teacher. Custom USB drives can help students learn and enjoy more than just their textbooks.