Ch. 12 Reflecting on What You Know

When using technology in the classroom, it is important to think through all aspects of the activities.  Before allowing students to use the computers it is important to know exactly what you want them to do.  Teachers can do this by creating a model of the activity.  This allows teachers to not only think through the assignment, but also experience any glitches that they may not have anticipated otherwise. Teachers may find it valuable to bookmark a handful of websites or have applications already running on the computers. Teachers may also find, when introducing a new form of technology, that it is helpful to walk through the applications with the entire class several times before allowing students to use it on their own.  Many teachers may want to create step-by-step guides as a resource for students. Teachers should also prepare a rubric and other assessment tools before asking students to use technology in the  classroom.

Before students use the computer for their assignment they should have a clear understanding of the expectations.  For example, if students are to be searching for information, it is helpful for them to have a list of search terms prepared prior to sitting down at the computer. Having a rubric or checklist will help students stay organized and also provide a way for teachers to ensure that students are focused on the task rather than being distracted by the many opportunities the internet provides.

Ensuring equal computer access is a concern for many teachers, as most do not have enough computers.  Teachers can create small groups  of students in which each student has a task assigned to them.  Alternately, groups can rotate through various activities in the room together so that the entire group is using the computers at once.  This is less collaborative, but allows students time to work independently.  Some teachers may also have the option of using a computer lab or allowing students to borrow laptop computers so that each student has a computer.