Recommended Hardware and Software (what I have found that works best under most circumstances) Dr. Ron Pendleton

In order to complete course assignments, EVOC scholars must have (or have access to) some basic computer hardware and software. Although Internet connected computers available in most public libraries and school computer labs will work for this purpose, it is to the advantage of every teacher to have his/her own computer with related hardware and current software.

Most police officers purchase, maintain and update their own personal police equipment and they usually opt for the best available because that equipment can and does save lives. The same applies to teachers with respect to personal teaching equipment like computer hardware and software because teachers are also very much involved with the business of saving lives!

The following recomendations about computer hardware and software for teachers are based on my own personal experience as a teacher educator and my observations of several thousand scholars preparing to become teachers (as they struggled with various types of hardware and software) in courses I have taught between 1984 and 2004.

HARDWARE

The word hardware refers to the computer itself and any physical device (peripheral) that can be connected to the computer (such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, hard drive, disk drives, modem, LCD projector, printer, etc.). A good laptop computer will include almost all of the hardware needed, built in to a small, easy to transport and use package.

Almost any computer more than two years old most likely does not have a fast enough CPU and does not have enough RAM to faciliate good online functioning. It is also very helpful to have a fast Internet connection (Cable, DSL, or a direct connection like those available in most workplaces). If you have a laptop computer (highly recommended for teachers because laptop computers can be used anywhere) it should have a wireless card which will enable a fast Internet connection in locations that have wireless base stations (like Starbucks and most airports and hotels). Dial-up modem connections, although still functional, are so slow that most people find them very frustrating.

In addition to a good computer (get the best you can afford as cheap prices almost always result in problems) with the fastest CPU and as much RAM as possible, you should also get the largest capacity (not physical size) internal hard drive available and a second, external, hard drive to back up everything you have on the internal hard drive, The best way to connect hard drives and devices like digital video cameras to your computer is through a "Firewire" (ieee) connector. Your computer should also have USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors, as those are a standard way to connect all sorts of things to the computer (a read/write CD drive and a read/write DVD drive are built into good computers, and are really essential for most teachers). Other things you might want to connect are a printer, a scanner, a memory stick and a digital still camera, (all reasonably inexpensive and all connected via USB).

Almost all laptop computers have a "video out" port for connecting to an LCD projector. Many educational institutions are now installing LCD projectors in "smart classrooms" so that anyone with a laptop computer can simply connect that to the projector and project anything from the computer onto a large screen for everyone in the room to see. Many LCD projectors are also small enough to be easily portable, but can cost as much as the computer itself.

I believe the "best" computer available for teachers is the Macintosh PowerBook. It is best for two basic reasons: it is easy to learn how to use and it is remarkably dependable (under almost all circumstances it simply does not crash!). The PowerBook is a laptop computer and the top of the line will most likely cost around $3000. Another very good choice is the Macintosh iBook. It can be a third to a half less expensive than the PowerBook and still do everything that most teachers will need it to do. There is a discount for teachers on all Macintosh products. For more information, visit the online Apple Store for Education at:

http://www.apple.com/education/

SOFTWARE

The word software refers to a variety of different programs that enable computers to accomplish specific tasks (such as word processing, sending and receiving e-mail, web surfing, etc,). Most software programs are sold on CDs and must be installed onto the computer's hard drive by inserting the CD into the computer's CD drive and following a simple set of installation instructions. Most software programs (such as those described below) include reasonably good tutorials and "help" menus.

Updated versions of software programs are released fairly frequently and it is usually a good idea to upgrade to the most current version. Sometimes new software will not work well (or sometimes it will not work at all) on older computers, so be sure to check for compatibility before buying or installing any software. If your computer is less that two years old there shouldn't be any problems, but it is always a good idea to check for compatibility.

Basic software recommended for all teachers include a good operating system, web browser, e-mail program, word processing program, graphics program, presentation program, audio program, video program and an html editor. Specific recommendations are as follows:

Operating System - Every computer includes an operating system, but these are updated from time to time and it is usually best to upgrade to the most current version whenever such upgrades become available. For Macintosh users that would currently be the latest version of OSX (Operating System 10). For Windows users there are differing opinions about which operating system is best, so Windows users should check with a tech support person (most institutions that use Windows PCs maintain some sort of tech support team to troubleshoot the numerous problems usually associated with Windows hardware and software).

Web Browser - Internet Explorer is currently the most widely used web browser and every teacher should have a copy of it. There is a Mac version and a Windows version and both are usually included (free) with any new computer. There are a number of new web browsers appearing and it would be worthwhile to look into any (or all) of them and go with whatever you personally like best. Having two or three different web browsers is a good idea.

E-Mail Program - There are all kinds of different e-mail programs and whatever the institution you are working for is using would probably be a good one to go with. The Mail program that comes free with all Macintosh computers is my personal favorite.

Word Processing Program - Microsoft Word is the most widely used word processing program and every teacher should have a copy of it. There is a Mac version and a Windows version. I personally like the Apple Works word processor as I find it to be more user friendly. However, being able to create documents with Microsoft Word, either on a Mac or a Windows PC, is essential because that will facilitate being able to share documents with other people. In the same vein, the Adobe Acrobat program is also essential because it can be used to create documents that will look and print exactly the same no matter what type of computer is used.

Graphics Program - A good program that works well on both a Mac and a Windows PC is Adobe Illustrator. A good companion program is Adobe Photoshop. In fact, the Adobe Creative Suite (which includes Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat and Go Live) would be a good investment for any teacher and all of those programs have both Mac and Windows PC versions on the same CD for each program. A program called iPhoto that comes free with every new Macintosh computer also works very well for organizing and editing photos from digital cameras.

Presentation Program - All teachers should have some way to present information in facilities that have projectors attached to computers or at least a projector to which the teacher's laptop computer can be attached. The most widely used program for this purpose is PowerPoint, which is available for both Macintosh and Windows PC computers.

Audio Program - All teachers should have some way to record and/or input sound files directly into their computers. Both Macintosh and Windows PC computers incorporate this feature as part of their operating system software.

Video Program - Some way to process digital video can be very helpful to most teachers. Macintosh really shines in this area. Their entry level video program, Adobe Photoshop, is free with all new Macintosh computers, is easy to use and can produce spectacular results. At the top end is Final Cut Pro which is expensive, but is an industry standard used extensively in the production of commercial movies. There is video software available for Windows PCs, but nothing that even comes close to iMovie or Final Cut Pro.

HTML Editor - Although most teachers are not yet proficient at using html for creating and updating web sites, Adobe Go Live (part of the Adobe Creative Suite referenced above) is an excellent program that can make web site development a lot easier.

Almost all of the software needed by teachers is available in two packages: Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. Both packages are available to teachers at substantial discounts. All of the teachers I know who use Macintosh computers are also very fond of the Mac specific software mentioned above. Anyone who has been using Windows PC hardware and software, and is comfortable with that, should probably continue using it. Anyone just starting with computers, or anyone who has been frustrated by the complexity and unfriendliness of Windows PC computers, is much more likely to find that Macintosh is a better choice.

I should mention that I do not have any affiliation with Apple and do not profit in any way from recommending Macintosh computers and/or related software. I use both PCs and Macs on a daily basis and for me there isn't any comparison: Macs are better in every way for everything I do. I should also mention that most educational institutions are not yet in a position to keep up with the rapid evolution of both hardware and software. Consequently, under most circumstances, the only teachers who are really up-to-date are those who buy and continue to update their own hardware and software.

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December 2004