by Marjorie Sharp
Before becoming involved with the USWEST Grant I was very concerned that in my building there were so many computers which were sitting idle day in and day out. I do feel that every computer should be on and a student working at them at all times during the day. I felt that something could and should be done to change this!! When beginning this project I began to see a very large and heavy door open up to a whole new bright and exciting world before me. I learned about so many new tools and methods of technology instruction which I was extremely excited to share with the teachers in my building because ultimately the students are the benefactors!! And isn't that why we are in this business???
I created a series of workshops of how to use 1 to 4 computers in the classroom with Teachers on the Sidelines, using Windows, HyperStudio, the Internet , and e-mail, and developing WebQuests . I have conducted these workshops in varying lengths from all day sessions, to my "down and dirty" sessions after school which last for 45 minutes and introduces two or three new ideas which teachers can take back to their classrooms for students to use. During these workshops, not only have I been able to introduce my colleagues to new ideas on how to use the computers in their classrooms but also introduced the new technology tools available to them in our building such as the TVator program, digital camera, scanner, desktop publishing tools in our new desktop publishing center, and of course utilizing the internet in our classrooms. Because of working with these various tools and programs in our USWEST sessions, I was better informed to return to my school to share with our staff.
In my workshop, Teachers on the Sidelines, the goal was to help teachers learn how they use the computers they have in their classrooms as tools to support their curriculum. I developed different curriculum lessons at different levels to demonstrate a project center concept where students become more responsible for their own learning and the teacher moves from a director to a facilitator in their classroom. This approach has a variety of activities related to subject being taught along with a checksheet and a portfolio. One of the activities included could be an activity on the computers in which every student, at one time or another during this project center, would have the opportunity to complete the computer activity. Depending on the assignment, one could use the HyperStudio program to create a stack - use a scanner or digital camera to import photos, import information from the internet, use the video camera and the QuickTime program to import video on their stack, use our TVator presentation program using the computer connected to a large monitor in the classroom. Two years ago if someone had talked to me about any of this - it would have been pure Greek!! Thanks to USWEST, my technology horizons have been greatly expanded. I loved the opportunity to be continually involved and learning about new technologies and ways to implement them.
Our building workshops have been extremely successful. As one walks down the halls of our school you will observe the majority of computers turned on and students and/or teachers in front of them. As students and teachers learn more about how these marvelous tools support their learning, the more they want to know. We have had tremendous support and interest in expanding our technology horizons at our school.
In my many years of teaching experience, I feel that teachers teaching teachers is the most effective way to create change in our schools. As a teacher, I have seen so many glitzy people with so many impractical glitzy ideas come and go. There was no follow-up or instant support which is so necessary when new ideas and programs are being introduced. When teachers are teaching teachers, we have been there and done that - we understand each others problems and unique settings and can better support each other as we are all in this together to provide the best possible education for our students!!
In using 1 to 4 computers in classrooms, teachers could use a variety of classroom management styles such as learning centers, literary circles, or some type of stations learning program. We need to move away from the teacher directed classroom to a teacher facilitated classroom and provide our students with a more effective "real world" experience!
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This page maintained by CC Chamberlin.
Last modified: 1/31/97
Send comments, corrections, etc. to cc@acca.nmsu.edu
