Classroom Use

Why on earth would you want to use a computer and have to incorporate it when you're already far too overworked? Why waste time with yet another trend that will fall by the wayside in a couple of years?

The answer is simple:  Efficiency and motivation. Computers allow you to perform many tasks more efficiently. Your students can also get done with assignments more quickly. They will also be highly motivated to do the work. Just say the word "computer" and most kids' eyes light up. Take advantage of that and stop fighting them to get them to practice writing their spelling words ten times each (have them type instead!).

Most teachers fall into a category when it comes to computer/technology use in the classroom.
 

• Resistors - Those who are afraid of technology and resist all efforts to try to get them to use it.
• Receivers - Those who accept technology and the information given them, but then do nothing with it.
• Transistors - Those who tentatively use technology with a lot of support and modeling and hand-holding.
• Conductors - Those who listen and try new things with technology, helping to slowly spread its use.
• Transformers - Those who not only listen and try, but come up with their own ideas and promote technology use , becoming tech-cheerleaders and role models for the other levels.
   

No matter which level you fall into, there is room for learning, practice, and growth.  The suggestions on this page are for all levels of tech use.

No matter how you use the computers in your classroom, things will go more smoothly if you follow a few suggestions:

-Train the students to use the software before you give them assignments.
-Keep step-by-step help sheets or instructions handy during all assignments.
-Train a handful of students to be tech helpers so they can assist students when you can't.
-Have a "help" system in place so students know what to do when they encounter problems.
-Teach students how to save assignments so that work is never "lost" and never has to be redone.
-Give them deadlines, even for brief assignments (i.e. "Have your introduction done in twenty minutes;" "You should be through with your first slide in five more minutes,"). Nudge students and keep them on track at all times. Use a timer or Post-it notes if you need to. Computer Post-its have the capability for you to set alarms to remind students to move to the next task.
-Find parents who are willing to volunteer and who are computer-savvy and make use of them. Let them surf for appropriate sites to use with lessons. Ask them to come supervise students who are creating PowerPoints or other big projects.
-Keep projects simple. They don't have to be intricate or flashy. They just need to involve learning. The kids should be the ones doing all the work.

Ways to use One Computer in a Classroom

• Personal Use - Use your computer to keep your grade book, to plan lessons, to surf the Internet for resources, etc. Write letters to parents, keep records on student achievement, create puzzles and games. Maintain seating charts and substitute teacher directions. Create time lines to use with projects and social studies lessons. Make different types of graphs to display. Create awards and certificates on which you can simply insert names and dates. Take advantage of the myriad reference materials, including online dictionaries and CD-ROM encyclopedias. Use email to contact parents. Use email to put your class in touch with scientists, engineers, and other specialized professionals. Join mailing lists for teachers in your area. Follow the message threads on bulletin boards or ListServs. Find online projects and join one for your class to participate in. Maintain a classroom news web page. Create a printable newsletter. Even if your students never touch the computer in your classroom, they can benefit from its existence, and so can you!
• Projection - Simply connect the computer to a large television using a scan converter or other projection device so that all students in the classroom can see it. You can surf sites, demonstrate how to use programs, etc. You can share slide shows with your students in this format. You can create graphs or timelines as a group effort. This is especially appropriate with grades K-2. Older grades would create individual ones. Use programs like Inspiration to break apart story elements and organize them as a group. Create Jeopardy games or other games to play as a class. Pull up maps of far-away places. Explore the solar system. Show your students videos of different dances. Listen to Beethoven music clips. Expose them to a world of information that they might not search out on their own.
• Centers - The typical way that computers are used in a regular education classroom is as one of many centers. Students rotate from one center to another, and computers are just one of these stations that the students are assigned to for a short time each day or each week. You can use specific software CDs or applications installed directly onto your computer. When you use the computers this way, be sure that you have a purpose in mind when sending students to them. Don't use them just for a reward, and don't use them just for skill and drill. These things have their places, but foremost, students need to know that computers are tools to help them do certain jobs.
• Cooperative Work - There are many assignments that students can complete on computers by working cooperatively or in small groups of 3-4. Choose roles for each student in a group or pair. Have them switch roles occasionally. This is a good way to share the computers and give students more hands-on time with the technology.
  There are a few rules to keep in mind during cooperative work:
  -Listen and do not interrupt.
  -Take turns talking.
  -Everyone participates and everyone finishes his/her job.
  -Respect everyone in the group.
  Give students some strategies to use when making decisions. These may be simple votes after discussing pros and cons. For most of my elementary students, "paper, rock, scissors" is their favorite fair way of settling arguments. Group work using computers is a wonderful thing because of the discussion and thought process that it requires. Students learn a lot of life skills while going through the steps of a project.

Computer Labs

A quick note about computer labs:  Computer labs are great when you need all students to learn a skill at once, or all students need access to computers at the same time. However, when technology becomes a natural infusion throughout the school, the lab will shift its focus and become more of a resource area. When you reach this level, you know you're doing something right.

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These pages created by Lori Miller, copyright 2004.

Last updated May 24, 2007.