My Vision of a Technology Infused Classroom
Nicole L. Mancini
Materials
In the ideal world, a classroom would provide all students with the necessary materials to use technology effectively, quickly, and meaningfully. This includes computers, a projector and document camera, an ActivBoard, and powerful Internet access. Obviously space and financial limitations come into play, but it would be ideal for all students to have a computer to use. This could be done through a visit to the lab or more computers available within the classroom. They can then use them to take notes, complete research, compose writing assignments, and so on. At this time, it is very difficult for me to take my studens to the computer lab even though here are three of them. Quite frequently, technology or art technology classes are going on during the same time as R/LA courses. As a result, we need to compete with one another (and the elementary teachers) for the lab space. This is not always successful.
An ActivBoard is an amazing piece of technology. It has taken my students to new places and has made a strong positive impact on instruction. This is especially the case of those students with special needs. The ActivBoard (and it's accompanying projector) allows me to design interactive lessons for the children to teach a concept or review one previously learned. It also acts as a projection device so that I can show specific websites or content related to what's being learned. We can visit an online dictionary if there's a question about a vocabulary and how it is spelled or pronounced. We can conduct research as a whole class on a theme or topic brought up in a novel. The board can also act as a film screen so that I can show videos (films, clips, BrainPop cartoons, etc.) to help students further understand the content being taught. All classrooms should have this capability.
A document camera would help enhance this experience. Instead of having to scan in handouts or worksheets that are not teacher-made, they can be easily and quickly placed under the camera for student view. Teachers can then write/highlight/manipulate them in "real time" to help students see the process they should take for the activity. In terms of writing, mini-lessons on peer editing come to mind. It would be a wonderful opportunity to discuss how to critique a peer's paper, offer advice, etc. This could be done in front of the whole class so that they can transfer this knowledge and do it on their own.
Technology Education
By the fifth grade, students should be able to work well in Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer. This means that they should be able to format documents --- select spacing options, use TABs correctly, adjust font size, color, and style, etc., save documents (either to a network, memory stick, or online portal, insert pictures and format them, and so on. They should also be able to type and do so well. At this time, fifth grade students are typing extremely slowly because they lack necessary typing instruction in the lower grades. Few of them know the "home row" or how to make punctuation marks like apostrophes, dashes, quotation marks, etc. This is a problem. We need to return to the "old-fashioned" method of typing instruction so that it is done on a regular basis. This will help prevent the problems we are seeing now. As far as Internet Explorer goes, students should be able to conduct research using appropriate methods online. They should know how to navigate the web, find information, and work well within web pages.
I would like more of a focus on the "basics" before we move towards the more advanced types of technology lessons. We need our students to be able to type, use a word processor, and navigate the Internet before they move onto software like Power Point, wikis, digital photography, etc.
Nicole L. Mancini
Materials
In the ideal world, a classroom would provide all students with the necessary materials to use technology effectively, quickly, and meaningfully. This includes computers, a projector and document camera, an ActivBoard, and powerful Internet access. Obviously space and financial limitations come into play, but it would be ideal for all students to have a computer to use. This could be done through a visit to the lab or more computers available within the classroom. They can then use them to take notes, complete research, compose writing assignments, and so on. At this time, it is very difficult for me to take my studens to the computer lab even though here are three of them. Quite frequently, technology or art technology classes are going on during the same time as R/LA courses. As a result, we need to compete with one another (and the elementary teachers) for the lab space. This is not always successful.
An ActivBoard is an amazing piece of technology. It has taken my students to new places and has made a strong positive impact on instruction. This is especially the case of those students with special needs. The ActivBoard (and it's accompanying projector) allows me to design interactive lessons for the children to teach a concept or review one previously learned. It also acts as a projection device so that I can show specific websites or content related to what's being learned. We can visit an online dictionary if there's a question about a vocabulary and how it is spelled or pronounced. We can conduct research as a whole class on a theme or topic brought up in a novel. The board can also act as a film screen so that I can show videos (films, clips, BrainPop cartoons, etc.) to help students further understand the content being taught. All classrooms should have this capability.
A document camera would help enhance this experience. Instead of having to scan in handouts or worksheets that are not teacher-made, they can be easily and quickly placed under the camera for student view. Teachers can then write/highlight/manipulate them in "real time" to help students see the process they should take for the activity. In terms of writing, mini-lessons on peer editing come to mind. It would be a wonderful opportunity to discuss how to critique a peer's paper, offer advice, etc. This could be done in front of the whole class so that they can transfer this knowledge and do it on their own.
Technology Education
By the fifth grade, students should be able to work well in Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer. This means that they should be able to format documents --- select spacing options, use TABs correctly, adjust font size, color, and style, etc., save documents (either to a network, memory stick, or online portal, insert pictures and format them, and so on. They should also be able to type and do so well. At this time, fifth grade students are typing extremely slowly because they lack necessary typing instruction in the lower grades. Few of them know the "home row" or how to make punctuation marks like apostrophes, dashes, quotation marks, etc. This is a problem. We need to return to the "old-fashioned" method of typing instruction so that it is done on a regular basis. This will help prevent the problems we are seeing now. As far as Internet Explorer goes, students should be able to conduct research using appropriate methods online. They should know how to navigate the web, find information, and work well within web pages.
I would like more of a focus on the "basics" before we move towards the more advanced types of technology lessons. We need our students to be able to type, use a word processor, and navigate the Internet before they move onto software like Power Point, wikis, digital photography, etc.