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Teaching to Standards with New Technologies 2
Read a Sample of the Course Content
If you're like us, it's tempting to dream up magnificent lessons that actively engage students in collaborative knowledge building as each student has their own computer, and each lesson is 90 minutes long. However, the realities of our teaching settings often don't support such dreams. The reality may be a dozen computers, three of which don't work, and a 40 minute time slot. So ... what to do??? First, let's view these realities as challenges, not as road blocks. Then, let's apply our creative teaching skills to surmount the challenges. There is one thing we're certain of: each of you has a plethora of creative teaching strategies you've accumulated over the years to improve classroom learning. Now, we just have to consider how these strategies could be applied for the purpose of supporting lessons that use technology.
And, let us not forget, sometimes challenges provide unique opportunities. For example, a shortage of functioning computers could open up more opportunities for collaborative work. Research tells us that learning is a social business. Perhaps putting students in teams of 3-4 to work on one computer will support "sense-making" that can only happen when students exchange ideas in a social setting. Or, perhaps it is best to assign students to roles - giving each student responsibility for one piece of the puzzle to solve for their group, much like how adults do tasks at work. Or, while one student uses the computer for their work, the others could be mapping out plans or collecting data on paper. Positioning the computer as the tool to apply AFTER plans are carefully thought out is not only an economical way to use technology, it focuses computer time and positions students as the THINKERS who control the computer (not the other way around).
Having limited resources doesn't mean we need to compromise sound pedagogy in our lessons. It just means we need to make sure the pedagogical design fits the setting's logistical set up. For those with technology constraints, you might find the two links below to be useful. Both offer some resources, strategies and support for educators with limited computer access .......
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