A) My name is Linsey Keller and I too am a proud member of the Middle Years Education Program. I will be receiving my Bachelor of Education Degree after I am finished this semester. I interned in McLean, Saskatchewan. It is a very small town with a very small school. At the same time, it had quite a few computers as compared to the number of students, as well as many other computer related technologies (SMART Board, scanners, digital camera, fax machines, etc.).
I have not lived in Regina all of my life. I am originally from the big town of Wilkie, Saskatchewan. When I was in high school I took Information Processing until I finished grade 10. After this I chose not to take any further computer classes in high school. I felt that, at the time, I already knew how to type and was familiar with many computer programs, so why continue practicing those same things year after year? For me, I would rather learn about computers using a trial and error approach then have to have someone else teach it to me. I now understand that I do need some guidance and need to learn some more information about all the new things computers have to offer. I feel that this class will help me better understand what is out there and how it can benefit me and my students.
B) Students already have the mindset that every report they have to do should be done on computers, typed very neatly in about size 20 font – don’t forget double spaced. I would say that most students by grade 7 are familiar with a keyboard and can use Microsoft Word (from my experience anyway). Whenever students are given an assignment in which they have to research the first place they will ask to go is on the computers to search the Internet.
In the classroom I use Computers for, obviously, Computer class, as well as many other classes. I have found, or have been introduced to, some very neat Math websites that provide teachers with some virtual manipulatives to enrich student learning. Here is the website I feel is most useful:
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
There are also a variety of diagrams and short video clips or graphic animations that are worthwhile using in Science. Instead of tracking down the VCR, TV, and a video to show your students, you can just search the Internet. While I was in McLean I was introduced to two programs. One was All The Right Type (ATRT), which focused on providing students with learning activities, skill builders, and tests to improve the students’ ability to type and become more familiar with the keyboard. When I was in school we used a paper copy to take our typing tests from. We had to look from computer screen back to paper to know what it was we should type. Now, it is all on the monitor. The entire program simplifies everything for everyone involved and the teacher can easily print off students’ typing results before a reporting period. The other program I learned about is ActivBook Reader. This program has a variety of activities set up with step by step instructions for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12. There are so many activities that it takes a long time to go through and find which ones would benefit or enhance your classroom or teaching.
C) In a way I feel as though there are good resources out there, such as these computer programs and the Internet, sometimes it may be better for all students to hand-write an essay to practice their writing. It would be also beneficial for students to learn the necessary skills to be able to look in a hardcopy, non-fiction book to do their research. Computers have many potential benefits but I believe that we are limiting the information we use and the skills that we develop if we rely on computers for everything. I also feel that teachers can increase students’ knowledge of technology depending on how they go about doing so. When I introduce my students to a program, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, I will only give them the basic instruction that they need to use the program. If students are given an assignment and shown exactly, step by step, how to complete it, many students will just try to replicate what was shown to them. After they are finished the assignment, will they remember how to do it again without those instructions? I don’t think so. Will they use their creativity and intelligence while completing their assignment? Probably not, because they will want to get it ‘right’ and they may think ‘right’ is only what the teacher did. Now, in all fairness, the amount of instruction provided does depend on the type of assignment and the age of your students. In my experience, I believe that I have learned more about computers by trial and error or a guess and see approach. For example, changing the background on our blog was not difficult for me to do, it just took a few minutes of exploration and I will remember how to do it again.
To the group members:
I was wondering if we would want to try to put our individual blogs in folders or separate them from each other in some way (if it’s possible??). It would be easier for us to go and see what someone has written and for Gloria to mark our assignment. Just a thought – what do you think? We also need a new title!
~Linsey~
