Teaching Children About Input and Output
Technology Activity for Students New to Computing
Nov 6, 2009
Though schools still struggle with keeping their technology current with the market, many children have access to more advanced devices at home. Teaching them about input and output can include the basic examples usually available at school, such as the mouse, keyboard, monitor and data projector. A home-to-school connection, which relates directly to students’ own experiences, is made when they are asked to bring examples of devices from home that are not typically found at school.
What is Input and Output?
Computer input is the information that goes into a computer to be processed. It can come from a simple device, such as a keyboard or mouse. Input can also come from less traditional devices such as scanners, joysticks, and game consoles.
Computer output is the opposite of input; it is what comes out of the computer after information is processed. It can be through common devices such as a monitor, speakers, or printer. Output can also come from devices such as a data projector, digital video camera, or digital media player.
There are also devices that can do both input and output. These are called multifunction devices. Examples of multifunction devices include Internet telephones and modems.
Activity Using Student Provided Technology Examples
Once students understand the basics of input and output, they are ready to look for examples. Either as an assignment or as extra credit, ask students to bring from home either a physical example or an image either printed from online or cut out of a magazine.
In class, ask each children to show their devices and explain what they can do with each. For example, an MP3 player can get music from the computer and play it later. Then, ask the class to determine if the device is input, output, or multifunction. Students should then record their answers on a table or in a spreadsheet.
The lesson can be extended to include a math component as well. Once all of the devices have been identified students can calculate how many of each is provided. They can find the percentage of each type as well as create a pie graph.
Input and output are abstract terms and can be confusing for some students. Showing them examples of simple devices available at school can help, but students become more involved and better able to make concrete connections when they find and bring examples from home.
Related articles: Technology Trends and the School, Teach Computer Science Education
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