The
following pages are part of a class written by Marilyn Western,
former 1st grade teacher, and Janine Lim, Instructional
Technology Consultant, BCISD. The class is Technology in
the Early Elementary Classroom and is available online.
Although
this specific list is targeted to early elementary, most
of the ideas are applicable to all grade levels.
Introducing
Technology, Software, or Activities
- Small
Assignments: Go slow! When using new software in your
classroom, such as KidPix, teach students the tools by
assigning small activities that use just a couple of the
tools. Gradually increase their knowledge this way.
- Play
Time: Another option for introducing new software is to
give the students a chance to explore the software before
giving them an assignment to complete.
- Stamp
Catalog: Copy the stamps pictured in your manual. Paste
them in colorful file folders, laminate and leave at computer.
- Dynamite
Rule: You may explode your picture twice in
one day. After that, youre stuck with what you have
(unless you want to use your pencil eraser
tool.)
Whole
Class Demonstration
- Show
students the activity as a whole class demonstration using
the computer and TV before sending them to work alone
at the computer.
- The
idea here is to get the image BIG! Request the largest
possible monitor your district can afford. Also, change
your font size to a larger size so students in the back
can see. Connect your computer to a large-sized television
via a converter just a cable with a box between
your computer and the TV that will display on the TV whatever
is on your monitor. Going up in price, an LCD panel with
overhead or a video projector is a wonderful (but expensive)
way to "publish" for your class.
- What
do I do with one computer and the whole class? I can introduce
a new website, demonstrate a science experiment with digital
pictures, or model a new software game. I can take a field
trip to the North Pole or an art museum without reserving
a bus, exchange information with classrooms around the
world by e-mail, or locate a picture to illustrate a fact.
Reading
at the Computer
- Reading
Online: Make
the font size large so kids can see it easily.
- For
non-readers, have several classroom 'experts' available.
Select 3-4 students and 'inservice them' during a morning
recess. Have them practice the program and/or complete
the project during the next couple of recesses. Then intro
the computer project & experts to the class and let 'em
go!
Supervision
- I
learned long ago just how important location is to computers.
Keep the monitor perpendicular to windows the sun
can wipe out your monitors images, or can make your
students squint into the light. Of course, water and electronics
dont mix, so keep away from the drinking fountain/sink
area, and make sure your students know that magnets are
not friends to your computer.
- Keep
your computers out of major walkways the cords
have a tendency to jump out and grab passing students.
Plan for sufficient space to have a small group of students
around the computer for teaching purposes.
- You
should be able to see your computer monitors from wherever
you happen to be perched for your direct instruction groups.
You know how to use your teacher eyes and ears when you
are busy with one group and other groups are on their
own. Obviously, if the busy buzz of kids on computers
suddenly gets loud with laughter or very whispery quiet,
its a good time to take a peek at the screen.
- For
upper grades, having a log (a sheet of lined paper on
a clipboard or a small notebook) is a good idea. Students
can sign in with name, date, time, and software program,
URL, or project title when they sit down to work. They
can end with a short sentence or two about what theyve
done during their computer time, something neat theyve
learned, what their plans for their next session are,
their problems or successes.
- An
extension of the log idea is to have a clipboard/notebook
for each computer in your room for reporting tech problems
(include the date, time, program/URL, what was done just
before the problem occurred, and what the exact problem
was). This would easily allow you to look for patterns
to computer problems.
Scheduling
Ideas
- Have
a class schedule posted where students rotate at 15 minute
shifts all day, even during direct instruction. This schedule
is at different times during the week, so students don't
miss the same class instruction each day (Student A starts
Monday at 8:15, Tuesday at 10:00, Wednesday at 12:30,
Thursday at 1:45, and Friday at 3:00). Since they are
in the classroom while working on their assignments, they
still hear all the necessary instruction.
- Use
the computers you have as a Center during Reading or Math
instruction. Kids rotate thru Center in pairs. If you
don't have enough computers for a group of 6 students,
call the center the Tech Center. Some can be on the computer,
others can use a GeoSafari or listen to a cassette tape
or watch a video in a corner of the room (point the tv/video
into a corner of the room and keep the sound low. I call
this the Theater Center) or record themselves reading
& play back as they follow in the book one more time.
Use any tech you have available.
- Here's
an idea from another teacher: I have three computers in
my third grade classroom. I use "blind mice" to rotate
students to the computer. The mice were once candy holders
that were given to me (found at K?Mart). I introduced
the mice and explained the procedure for using them. I
then have task cards at each computer so the students
know what to do when there. I also have a list of students
with the task card. The list of names allows the student
at the computer to know who is next. If a question arises,
they are to go to someone who has already completed the
task first. If that person cannot answer, then I will
help. I try to put a student who is fairly computer literate
as the first person so I know there will be a reliable
helper. By Michelle McComas.
Lab
Management Ideas
- Use
cups on top of the computer. Red cups for 'help', green
cups for 'everything's ok' , blue cups for 'I'm on the
Internet'.
- Or
Blue cup says I found something cool!
- Pair
students at the computer. K-3 Have one use the mouse and
the other use the keyboard. The next time they use the
computer they switch roles. 4-6 Have them switch who uses
the computer by dividing up the tasks.
- Three
before me rule: ask 3 other students BEFORE you ask the
Teacher!
- Ways
to ask for help: red cup, name on board, ask an expert.
- Save
to disks only if you have to save to server is
much better!!!
Student Helper Ideas
- Use
peer teaching. Each week have a different student in charge
of the computer. They should have learned whatever program
is used that week.
- Intro
the '3 before me' concept. Tough for younger students
to get the hang of (teachers are similar to the All Knowing)
but will eventually pay off.
- Have
a different student each week who serves as "Computer
Assistant." If students have a question, they are to go
to the Computer Assistant for help. If the Assistant doesn't
know, then they can ask the teacher.
- Cooperative
learning groups get more students involved in using technology
(or having a say in it)
- One
student in charge of keyboard, one in charge of mouse
(KPS is heavy on mouse use).
- Encourage
student Experts.
- Its
easy to pre- and post-assess students knowledge
if you have the time to have students sit down at the
computer individually. Most of the time, you can have
students partner up. For most computer projects, one is
in charge of the keyboard, and the other takes over the
mouse. Students can choose to change "jobs"
half way through their project if they wish.
- You
can also show two students a new program or computer operation
during recess, giving them another 20-30 minutes to explore
and become proficient. The next day, they are the "experts"
who teach other students the ins and outs of this new
skill. The "experts" you choose should not necessarily
be the techies in the class.
More Scheduling Ideas
- Put
a timer and a student roster next to the computer. Teach
the students how to set the timer for 15 minutes and to
tap the next person on the shoulder when they are done.
- Sample
Schedules for your classroom computers. Adapt them to
your own situation.
- Have
Free Play sign up 1st thing in the morning, use Centers
during Language Arts and have Thematic Groups in the afternoon
for research and reports with small groups.
- Schedule
times for individuals or small groups to be on computer
- Whos
turn on the computer??? Craft sticks, clothespins, charts,
sign ups
- Cycle
students through your computer in several different ways.
You can assign times for students. Janie knows she will
be on the computer every Monday from 9-9:30. She sets
a timer for 30 minutes, and calls up her math project.
When the timer goes off, she quietly saves and closes,
then whispers to David that it is his turn on the computer.
Twelve students can work on one computer within an hour
and a half on Monday through Thursday. Fridays are catch
up days for students who were absent, or didnt finish.
Janie and David are pretty good in Math it wont
hurt these two to miss 30 minutes of direct instruction
once every two weeks to work on a math project.
- During
Language Arts time, rotate small groups of six or seven
through the computer center, direct instruction with you,
an art project, and a phonics scavenger hunt. Students
change centers every 20 minutes (completing all four centers
in one day), or every 45 minutes (completing all centers
in two days) depending on the amount of time center projects
will need.
- During
thematic studies, cooperative learning groups can take
turns seeking information and creating their presentations.
Younger groups may consist of a reader, keyboarder, mouser,
recorder, resource person, and a timekeeper. Older groups
may have similar jobs, but more responsibilities as scriptwriter,
graphics, introduction and title slides, bibliography
or credits slides, and scanner.
Preparation
- Have
students plan their use of the computer before they get
on it. For example, have them write their slideshow before
putting it on the computer.
- Use
storyboards as organizational tools.
- Create
templates for students to drop in their work
- Brainstorm
& plan on paper first.
- Give
kids rubrics so they know what to aim for.
- Get
more table space: use copy clips (attaches to the side
of the monitor and holds paper up)
- Velcro
your speakers to the side of your monitor!
- If
you have a say in it, purchase computers with towers
gives you more space!
- Place
monitor on table so students look straight at it or down
a little. Check for correct posture.
- Use
headphones! KidPix Studio is VERY audio intense!
- Have
a Plan B ready just in case. This is technology were
talking about here and reliability isnt always one
of its assets.
- Run
through the lesson yourself before presenting to your
students. Just how long will it really take, what are
the skills students will need before they can tackle this
project, what is a realistic timeline?
- Do
as much offline as possible. Students should be prepared
to start work as soon as they sit down at the computer.
Their ideas should be written on paper, revised and edited
before they are considered ready for the computer. Computer
time is valuable!
Making
Class SlideShows in KidPix
- Teach
kids to put their name on their work and save to a slideshow.
When everyone has finished an activity or learning center,
you can easily run through the work by playing the slideshow.
When you have students save items for the slide show,
create a separate folder for the assignment. This will
help you keep organized. Here's
an instruction sheet you can laminate and use with
your students.
- Take
a week to rotate students to one computer (3 in the morning
and 3 in the afternoon for 5 days would allow 30 students
to create their own slide in 1 week).
- When
each student is finished s/he should save to 1 folder
in SlideShow. Make sure each student saves the picture
with his or her own name. When all students are finished,
it will take just a few minutes to combine all pictures
into one slideshow.
- Have
a list of students posted next to the computer. Show
the 1st student what to do (a sample that you have
created for yourself to show them, but not leave up,
will get their ideas rolling). When the 1st student
is finished and has saved his/her picture, s/he can
lightly tap the shoulder of the next student and show
them what to do before resuming his/her class work.
- Assign
each student 20 minutes on the computer. When they
sit down, they can set a timer for 20 minutes and
work till the bell rings. At that point, they can
save and call up the next person. Save some time each
day for students who need to finish up.
- Be
sure all students have a page in the SlideShow.
- Give
all students a printed copy of the project to share with
their parents.
- Have
the slideshow available during Open House or Conferences
so students can take their parents thru the slideshow.
- Give
students time to plan their picture BEFORE they get on
the computer.
- Rule:
You can erase the whole picture only 2x.
- Print
out the SlideShow and bind together for a class book.
- Create
a code for saving pictures: A for Art, N for
Nutrition, etc + students initials. All slides for
one slideshow will be grouped together and students can
easily locate their own slide for editing.
- If
students are creating their own slideshow, save with their
initials and a number (title slide is 1, next slide is
2, etc.)
- Kid
Pix slides can be printed, the pages, laminated and assembled
in book format.
- Take
dictation if you want everyone to have a chance by the
end of the week!
- Don't
record sounds for the individual pictures; this is done
later when assembling the slide show.
- Rearrange
the pictures in your slide show by dragging them from
one truck to another. Blank trucks will not show up on
your slide show.
- It
is very important to save the slide show file in the same
folder with the pictures. If you move the show to another
computer, or to another drive, you must move the separate
picture files, too, and they must all be located in the
same folder.
- OR
you can choose File/Save as StandAlone. This one file
contains the show and pictures; it is larger and is read-only
(cannot be edited).
-
Never save your slide show as a StandAlone without first
saving it normally!
|