Thursday, May 26, 2011

Final Reflection

Thanks again for all of your efforts this semester in making this project a success. Please reflect on the ideas below:

1 - Talk about the evolution of student-to-student support in your classroom with regard to troubleshooting with the machines.

2 - Talk about one change in your teaching practice based on this experience.

3 - What is the number one thing we should be training teachers to be able to do as they get computers in their classrooms?

9 comments:

  1. Bridgette BellowsMay 27, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    1. Students had no knowledge of how the machines worked at the beginning and therefore were unable to help one another. However, by the end of the semester they were voluntarily showing other students "shortcuts" and/or better ways of doing things. They definitely learned how to use the machines as the semester went on and were very willing to help the other students around them if they had a problem.
    2. Communicating with students electronically was a change for me. They were able to get into the routine of checking their email at the beginning of class in order to find out what we were doing and what the purpose of the class was. I also started to find more supports for learning online than I had before.
    3. I think teachers need to be trained in the web 2.0 tools and the types of lessons that will work well with their content areas. We need to give teachers the tools to use the computers appropriately. I also think it would help to give them a system for managing their documents.

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  2. 1. Students in the beginning had little computer knowledge besides chatting and facebooking, but later they were able to do shortcuts and 21st technology skills they are going to need.

    2 - Communicating with the students changed and thinking outside the box changed. Projects could be different for different groups using different programs. Plus, the students had more opportunities for exploration with a concept.

    3 - I think we need to train teachers in web tools before giving them the technology. Also, google docs organization is key before stepping into a project like this. Over all, this experience was wonderful and I wish every teacher would have had this opportunity.

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  3. 1 - students were able to help each other troubleshoot from day 1. We were lucky to have a couple of tech-savvy students in each class who were happy to help the others. As the semester progressed more and more students were helping each other out with the machines when needed.

    2 - The biggest change to my teaching practice is the daily use of technology in my lessons. I cannot imagine teaching without student computers in the room every day, even though we've only done it for a short time.

    3 - Teachers need to be trained on the apps and Web 2.0 tools and how to incorporate those into lessons. Students catch on quickly and teachers need to be able to show how to use those tools effectively.

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  4. 1. I was lucky to have some students who were tech savvy and had Randy Lau in photography class in which they are all using google documents and knew their way around. These students helped my other students. Also, Nina Reedy came to my classes a couple of times in the beginning and helped out my students get on and got passwords, etc. Students also helped me out with some issues.
    2. The biggest change was that I could have my students go directly to sites that showed the horrible conditions in WWI or the Concentration camps...or what was really happening in the US gov't today.
    3. Train the teachers in how to set up assignments electronically using Google Docs and Google presentations. Also how to find different interesting sites...that would be by different departments and age groups. A teacher has to think differently to be able to have the students
    'swim' thorough all the info and come out with a rational conclusion that is based in fact...not just fiction like Neo-nazis.

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  5. 1 Students started to help each other work when they encountered technical difficulties. Like I've said before, many students are not as technically savvy as we would like to believe they are. However, there always seemed to be a few technically savvy kids in the rooms who could help others. This experience has helped many kids who were not technically savvy to acquire technological skills.

    2. One change that I encountered was that I had to come up with new ways helping students find information. Students don't always know how to search for information and how to narrow their searches. When they type in a key word, they are also not aways in tune with what might be a good information source. I have tried to teach them to look for clues in what they are searching for.

    3. We should be training teachers how to use the google.docs. I'm not sure all teachers in our building know how to use them. I've had to help several teachers this year. Many are still using MS Word and transferring everything.

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  6. 1 - When the machines first arrived students were completely dependent upon me to "fix" any issues. Any time something went wrong I heard "I hate these computers." By the end of the semester students were troubleshooting on their own and solving their own problems. Students preferred to work with these machines 100% of the time.

    2 - I am no longer dispensing information. Students are engaged in the learning process.

    3 - Use Google Docs. I know it's simple, but it alone has dramatically increased learning in my classroom.

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  7. 1-When we first started working on the chromes, it took a great deal of time to get the students set up. However, once they got on and got use to the computers they were able to help one another when there were technical problems.
    2-I haven't been able to change as much as I would have liked, due to the lack of JAVA capabilities. If I had been able to have that capability, I could have done alot more with the various on-line math manipulatives. I also liked the idea of having online assignments. The Webworks had alot of potential, but I didn't have as much time to use it since I was also piloting the Integrated Math which really didn't match up.
    3-Use of Google Docs and how to manage files.

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  8. 1. From the beginning, students helped each other (and me) when they could. As time went by, some figured new things out more quickly than others. Each time I came to class with "something new" I had discovered, there were students who had something even better. It was a great sharing of struggles and successes with technology.

    2. Google docs has allowed me to begin to work with student writers the way I have always wanted to. I am able to give quicker and better feedback. Students feel like "real writers" because their writing can be seen immediately by other people (students and teachers).

    3. They need to know about Google Apps (especially docs, forms, and presentation) - it makes the biggest difference. The good thing is that many of our students will be able to help next year because of their experience this year.

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  9. 1. From the first day to the last day of school students went from helping each other learn how to use the Google Chrome Computer to helping each other discover new applications and short cuts to enhance learning.

    2. The greatest change in my teaching practices is how I am able to monitor student progress on writing performances. With the Chromes,I now have access to student work from first draft to final copy. I am able to and move about the room providing students with timely support and feedback, or if I am across the room helping another student, I can quickly pull up a document and respond to a student without them waiting until I can get to their desk.


    3 - I think the most important training a teacher would need is with the Google Docs and all the apps that are available to manage student work.

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