There are so many types of software; how do I know which ones to include in my lessons?
Software back by reasearch that you as the teacher have used before allowing students to use. This can be done by your own reasearch or by borrowing ideas from other teachers. Seek outside resources from the person who works in your schools computer lab. Software comes with many new and some old text books. Personally I have used one from a college textbook for a first grade project on the Presidents Washington and Lincoln, simply as a source for reasearch material, it was great fro the higher level thinkers to see the graphics and use the information in the captions in order to complete there projects.
I understand why students should use educational software and the Internet, but why should my fourth-grade students learn to use a spreadsheet, database, or video editing software?
I wish I had learned to use this software it would have made college much smoother, today students need that competative edge and technology is a way to level the playing field even for lowers tudents becaue it can play to the individual strenghs of the child. For example a child may struggle with writing but can create a five min. video explaining the charcter develpoment in a story. The assginment may be different but the outcome is the same the child understood the concept and was able to make it their own. And who knows he may later in life become the one who edits the movies for Hollywood.
How can student use of different types of software help improve scores on state test?
By showing the same information in a different way. Software allows not olny drill and prectice options but tutorials as well. Also lessons can be based around the specific needs of the child with out havign to pull them out of the classroom or make them feel different than the other students. The key is individualization for each student working on their weaknesses but not drilling them with pencil and paper btu something that may give them a different perspective than you may have thought of.
What are the benefits of using problem solving or educational software?
The use of software allows fro a small group setting in a classroom not build fro a small group it allows students to work indenpently and together in groups or pairs while the teacher facilitates or works one on one with a child who requires the indiviual attention. Creating independance in a classroom while still keeping the small groups allows a student to discover more than you could teach them becasue they found the knowledge on their own with your guidence not just lectureing and work sheets.
How do I choose the correct software?
Some is trial and error but before any new software in brought into the classroom proper research must be done and most school districts have a form. But before a teacher pulls their hair out trying to discover the newest software and integrate it into their lessons, Search what is already avalable at your school and talk to ther teacher who have used it. They may have more insite to the hands on part that the website that gave to great reviews. It may be above your students or far below, this collabrative process among teacher can save time when searching for something new to use in teh classroom.
When I integrate problem solving or educational software into a lesson, what changes will be needed?
Making sure the educational software algins with the objective of the lesson, and decide if the lesson objectives need to be changed inorder to incorporate the new software and if sho how does thatchange the outcome of the lesson. Looking ahead to see what kind of assesment the soft ware provides and decide if that is what will work best inorder to complete the objective of the lesson. Still keeping in mind the NTeQ components unique to technology integration lessons. I worked with a teacher who did not do much with technology in the classroom in the same grade as one who used technologhy in some way each day. The students in each class still passed the required state test but I feel the students in the other class will be better prepared for the next grade becasue they have a base in technology to give them teh edge they will need in order to succed in the future.
Morrison, G. & Lowther, D. (2010). Integrating Computer Technology Into the Classroom: Skills for the 21st Century. Boston: Pearson.
No comments:
Post a Comment