Fellow Teachers' Thoughts
I have learned a great amount of information about technology this semester. What are some ways that we can implement technology, if we do not have the resources? Most of our laptops freeze up, so how can we incorporate technology into our classrooms?
Ok, so apparently I'm still learning this because I completely just lost my entire post. So let me try this again.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good question. However, I am having a hard time answering it because majority of the elementary schools in Baldwin County have the proper resources to use technology. In fact I think all of the schools in Baldwin County do. I do know that technology has its "own mind" and sometimes doesn't work but I don't think that means we don't have the resources. Most classrooms now have Smartboards or Promethean Boards and those are great sources to incorporate technology. I don't know all about them but from what I do know it is very helpful. Most classrooms these days are set up with at least one student computer if not two, a teacher computer, a television with VCR/DVD player, and hopefully a Smartboard of some sort. However, when our technology doesn't perform correctly we should teach our students how to react, fix, and continue on if things don't work the way we want. I also think we could use radios with CD connections to use in reading centers. We could use the televisions to watch a video. There of course is outdated technology such as overhead projectors that we could use when necessary. If our school doesn't have the proper resources I believe we should find funding either by fundraisers or grants to get the proper resources. Our students need technology in order to grow and learn what they need to, to succeed in the real world. We need to get these resources for our students so we can use things like blogs, wikis, and digital storytelling.
I agree with you that most schools have the resources, but I have been in classrooms that do not. I think that it is a good idea to have fundraisers, but I'm not sure if that would be approved because there are so many fundraisers for other things. I think that all schools should have the right resources because it is so important for our students to learn about technology. Thanks for your opinion!
DeleteOh yes, trying to get the right resources won't be an easy task but I do think it will be worth the time and effort to get our students what they need! Great question for sure!
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ReplyDeleteHeather
ReplyDeleteI think that technology is so very important in our students' lives today! Technology is continually changing and our students need to be prepared for when they enter the real world, and know how to use it. As teachers, we can help our students in becoming technology savvy through many different ways. We can use the Smartboard, (I know that not every classroom has one, but maybe your school library has one? You could take your class to the library to use it.) Use classroom computers as a learning center in your classroom. Allow students to create projects through wiki and Photo Story in the school library, have a listening center in your classroom with a CD player/tape player, show educational movies on the classroom television or Smartboard, allow your students to learn collaboration skills on the Smart Table (I do not have one of these in my classroom, but we do have one in our school library that is available to my students to use during their library time). You can even allow students to bring in their own technology such as iPads or iPods and allow them to listen to books that you are using in your class for certain projects such as book report/book club. I know that in my classroom, the two student computers that I have are so old and slow, that the students sadly get frustrated whenever they get on them. I make up for this by having two scheduled times during the school week when I take my whole class to the computer lab to give them opportunities to play and learn though educational games on the computer. You could even use a CD player to teach children many things through music from a CD. I teach Pre-K, so they love to learn through music!
These are some great ideas! I like how you said that the students can work on projects in the library. This would be helpful because some classroom computers are slow. Thanks for your ideas!
ReplyDeleteYes, the library or computer lab are both a great resourse when it comes to extra technology opportunities. It also allows the whole class to be involved all at once, rather than just two (maybe more depending on your setup) students at a time in your classroom. You are very welcome!
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught kindergarten I had two classroom computers aside from my computer and laptop. I never had two working computers at the same time which makes working with technology difficult. So to include technology I had a center at the Smartboard while I pulled small groups. I would pull up literacy games that had to do with what sound or reading skill we were learning that week. Students would get the chance to go to the center twice a week. In the afternoon when I pulled intervention groups I would put math games on the Smartboard.
ReplyDeleteWhen I student taught fifth grade I rented the rolling cart that had a classroom set of laptops on it. We worked on the Gizmo website to help reinforce math. Now if you do not have a rolling cart at your school then you could pull the Gizmo up on the Smartboard and work as a class through the Gizmo.
Also in fifth grade we used the computer labs to work on book reports!
Erin, these are great ideas! I like how you used the Smartboard as a center! I bet the students really enjoyed that. I think that most classrooms have a Smartboard, so they could use technology through that tool. I wish that schools had more technology for the students to use. I know that a lot of schools do have the resources, but there are also a lot that do not. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy computer is constantly freezing up on me. It does make it hard to teach a lesson when this happens, but I have found using all the resources the media center has to offer is very beneficial. Even if your classroom does not have all the technology resources you need. The media center lets classrooms borrow or rent all different kinds of technology. Even if you media center does not have a ton or resources to use, you can always take your students to the computer lab. I know it’s easier to just use what is in the classroom, but showing your students you are willing to go that extra step, to get them the technology they need, is so important.
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