Week 7 One-computer classroom

Even with only one computer in the classroom, there are many ways to use technology effectively to improve student learning.

First, you can put the computer to good use even if you don't let your students touch it. You can use the computer as a tool in your own work. Use a word processor to prepare tests, a spreadsheet to keep grades, the Internet to find lesson plans. Use the Web or listservs to discuss issues with other teachers.

A single classroom computer can be used effectively as a presentation tool (to present audio/visual information to an entire class), a tool for generation or production of student work, a cooperative learning tool, and an in-class information resource.

Using presentation software like Power Point or Hyper Studio, you can create more compelling visual aids for your lectures. Such presentations are a good place to begin using the computer with your class, since there is little chance of anything unexpected or unpleasant happening. 

 Some useful tips:

Pair students up and set up a daily computer use schedule. 

Try to find time to have open blocks of time for individual student use.

Use a timer to keep students to their time limits.

Make sure computer time is used for creating products and doing research. All other pre-planning work should be done ahead of time (storyboards are a good way to do this).

Use teacher-created templates for students to fill in to save time.

Display posters using computer terms and commands.

Make sure computer etiquette and guidelines have been modeled.

Students can also use presentation software to support their presentations.

Set up a database that students collect information for, and enter whenever they have time.

Have students keep a class journal on the computer.  Students who are absent can check the next day to see what they missed. Use the computer as a mailbox for email projects.

In a one-computer classroom, students can conduct research in smaller chunks of time, create work products piece by piece, and send and receive email to outside experts. Time is probably the biggest issue with a one-computer classroom, but through creative scheduling, computer use can happen. For example, allowing students to work on the computer when they have finished with other subject work is a resourceful solution. Another solution is to group students and give them a day of the week for their computer day.

You can use a computer as a Learning Station for:

-Storyboard planning

- Peer reviewing and feedback

-Revising and drafting

-Computer use to create work products

-Computer use: researching, working with experts on the computer, publishing

If you have learning centers set up, use your computer as one of them. You can use: content-specific software for simulations, tutorials and drill-and-practice; CD-Roms or the Internet for research;  and a word processor for preparing reports. You can create assignments on disk which the students must complete.  Or assign one student each day to take notes each day and put them on the computer, so that students who are absent can catch up.

This week we were given countless ESL activities, strategies and applications for one-computer classrooms. I liked "101 Activities for the One-Computer Classroom"  http://www2.drury.edu/dswadley/101/ very much and I am again very thankful to Deborah for opening her secrets about Microsoft Word and Power Point for us: I have never heard of Inserting comments, Tracking changes, AutoSummarizing or built-in templates. I've enabled these options in my Windows 2007 and am going to use them now. 

After reading about activities for one-computer classroom, we  were to create a sample lesson to share this week. I've made interactive Power Point Presentation for "Writing Application" lesson and downloaded it on our Wiki. This presentation should help to serve as a plan to follow at the one-computer lesson, will give fine visual aids and will be used as a tool for checking the correct answers quickly and at ease.

References:

ESL Activities for the One Computer Classroom (S.Gaer): Word-Processing Ideas: http://www.susangaer.com/sgaer/onecomputer/wordprocessing.html

Strategies and applications for the one-computer classroom http://www.lburkhart.com/elem/strat.htm

Microsoft Word and PowerPoint in the Classroom  http://www.deborahhealey.com/techtips/may2009.html