TECHNOLOGY TOOLS IN

THE CLASSROOM

BY: JODEE FRITZ

INTRODUCTION

-This presentation provides only a brief overview of 10 technology tools for use by students and teachers.

-The potential for applications in the classroom extend far beyond what is described here.

-Unless otherwise noted, the tools had no appreciable weaknesses.

- A free online K-12 video sharing community

- Student generated content is teacher moderated to ensure trusted, safe and appropriate content

CLASSROOM USAGE- Students can create their own videos to share in

order to demonstrate understanding of a topic (e.g. songs/ skits/ presentations relative to current content)

- Students can view videos made by students nationwide

SCHOOL TUBE

FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT

- Great for both auditory and visual learners

- Allows students to engage in hands-on learning

- Provides an interactive medium to promote enthusiasm and interest

http://www.schooltube.com

- Free web-based collaborative projects in a wide variety of content areas for all grades

CLASSROOM USAGE EXAMPLES

INTERNATIONAL CYBERFAIR- students enter this International science competition by conducting research about their local communities and publishing findings in online video or website format

GLOBALSCHOOLNET.ORG

MORE CLASSROOM USAGE EXAMPLES

The Newsday Project allows students to write a newspaper compiled of their own articles and those from other schools to encourage local, national and global awareness

FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT

- Allows students to choose their own projects

- Offers a multi-cultural perspective for culturally diverse learners

- Allows for both independent and group learning

http://www.globalschoolnet.org/index

Wikispaces Classroom

- A free online classroom workspace where teachers and students can communicate and work collaboratively on individual or group projects

CLASSROOM USAGE

Teachers can track, edit and provide feedback on assignments

- Teachers can create/assign projects to individuals & groups

- Students can participate in a social newsfeed to ask questions or get information about classroom content

- Teachers can see real time data on student participation

CLASSROOM USAGE EXAMPLE` A 6th grade wiki classroom page could include a link for each subject which would then include a calendar, due dates, homework, announcements, a FAQ page and a blog.

FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT

- Allows for individual learning via private feedback from teachers

- Allows for group interaction (via blog) for the student who enjoys interpersonal learning

- http://www.wikispaces.com/content/classroom

Interactive Whiteboards- An electronic dry-erase whiteboard that

essentially becomes a computer screen visible to the entire classroom

CLASSROOM USAGE- Activity software can allow students and

teachers to interact with the board via touch during lessons (e.g.- allowing students to move/drag numbers in a math exercise on grouping like terms)

- The access it provides to a computer and the Internet allow endless choices for usage (e.g.-websites, web apps, news sites, Skype)

FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT

- Can support a variety of learning styles including auditory and visual learners

- Can support the kinesthetic learner when objects are manipulated on the board

- Can provide a stimulating learning environment

- Note- One weakness of this technology is that availability may be limited due to high cost.

INSPIRATION®9- Software for visual mapping, outlining, writing and

making presentations for Grades 6 and up

- CLASSROOM USAGE EXAMPLES

- Students can begin a writing project by brainstorming and then use tools such as concept maps, graphic organizers or webs to visualize and develop a plan

- Symbols and images can be dragged, dropped and added to show relationships between ideas

- Work can be instantly organized into an outline

EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZER

FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT

-Visually appealing for the visual learner, capable of video and sound addition for the auditory

learner

Highly interactive to garner and maintain student attention

- http://www.inspiration.com/Inspiration

- Note: This software must be purchased.

MICROSOFT EXCEL- Spreadsheet software that puts numerical

information in row-column format

- Allows for quick calculations

CLASSROOM USAGE

- Helps students develop skills in data analysis

- Allows students to present data in graph or chart form to organize or present ideas

Classroom Usage Example- Students collecting daily temperatures could

input data over a specified time period and then create a bar or line graph to show

average monthly temperatures in their community

- Fitting The Needs Of The Student

- -Good for the analytical learner

- Can help create graphic representation of data for the visual learner

- Note- This software must be purchased.

FUN BRAIN- Free online interactive educational games and

books for Pre-K-8 (part of Pearson Education Company)

CLASSROOM USAGE

- Students can use games to build on what they’ve learned in the classroom and strengthen math, reading and problem solving skills

- Students can read a variety of books online including popular series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid

CLASSROOM USAGE EXAMPLE- Students studying beginning fractions could use

free time to play Space Fractions, a highly interactive game that allows the student to “fuel” their rocket ship with correct answers

- FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT

- Allows students choice in game selection to allow differentiated instruction based on interests

- Highly interactive for the visual and auditory learner

- http://www.funbrain.com

HyperStudio® 5

- A multimedia software that allows users to create interactive multimedia projects

CLASSROOM USAGE

- Users can create a wide variety of projects including digital scrapbooks, postcards, comic books or a virtual memory box

CLASSROOM USAGE EXAMPLE

- A middle school geography unit could involve an assignment to create a postcard from several different cities in a cross-continental trek

- FITTING THE NEEDS OF THE LEARNER

- Allows for individual pace and individual expression

- Encourages creativity; highly appropriate for the visual learner

- http://www.hyperstudio.com

- Note- This software must be purchased.

teAchnology.com- Provides free printable resources for teachers (additional resources with annual membership fee)

- Printables include worksheets, rubrics, lesson plans, web quests, puzzles, graphic organizers, certificates, calendars, newsletters, crosswords and vocab searches for grades K-12

- Printables can be customized or printed from pre-formatted templates

Classroom Usage Example- To promote critical thinking skills an upper elementary or

middle school teacher could use the “Internet Search” worksheets that pose questions for students to answer after typing correct keywords into the search engine

- Fitting the Needs of the Student- Activities such as worksheets can be individualized to

student level to differentiate content for learners

- Varied lesson plans available to meet the needs of diverse learners (e.g.- an elementary math lesson plan on measurement allows the students to measure various items in the room which would support the visual and kinesthetic learner)

- http://teach-nology.com

GOOGLE DOCS- Free web-based word processing that allows

users to create and edit documents online while collaborating with other users live

CLASSROOM USAGE

- Students have opportunities to receive immediate feedback on writing projects from teachers and peers 24/7

- Integrated references and research tools enhance the writing process

- Collaborative brainstorming feature available

Classroom Usage Example- A high school class trying to find ways to raise

money for a senior trip could individually contribute ideas and commentary on the collaborative brainstorming feature

Fitting The Needs of the Student

-Students can contribute to brainstorming at their own pace rather than the usually “quick thinking”

pace

-Allows students to contribute to discussions who might not otherwise participate

- Allows for both individual and group participation

 

EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES FOR EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS

- Physically impaired students may need adaptive equipment such as expanded keyboards, adaptive switch interfaces or Clicker Writers

- Sensory impaired students may need screen-reading software such as JAWS, or audio captioning

- Students with cognitive disabilities may require simplified user interfaces such as Scholastic Keys or Inspire Date

ResourcesIdeas for Using Excel in the Classroom. (2014). Retrieved from http://learntech.ties.k12.mn.us/Excel_Classroom_Projects

Oxnevard. (2012). 5 Ways to Use Google Docs in the Classroom Getting Smart by Susan Oxnevard. Retrieved from http:// gettingsmart.com

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Boston: Allyn and Bacon

~Additional resources noted throughout presentation