Comments on: In-Class Computer Lab Use http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/04/in-class-computer-lab-use/ Challenge The Status Quo Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:46:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Penner http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/04/in-class-computer-lab-use/comment-page-1/#comment-46660 Penner Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:43:06 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=78#comment-46660 There are many organizations that would donate computors to needy schools. I suggest you contact civic organizations in your area. There are many organizations that would donate computors to needy schools. I suggest you contact civic organizations in your area.

]]> By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/04/in-class-computer-lab-use/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Todd Sat, 08 Apr 2006 14:56:44 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=78#comment-191 Anyone else have any ideas? 6th grade literacy and social studies are outside my area, but give <a href="http://www.flashcardmachine.com" rel="nofollow">The Amazing Flash Card Machine</a> a try. You can use that for just about any concept, have students create flashcards for each item, include pictures, definitions, whatever you want. This gets them used to working on the computer and dealing with databases. That might be a good starting point for them. I've been introducing <a href="http://del.icio.us" rel="nofollow">del.icio.us</a> to my students by posting articles that I feel they might find interesting and then turning the daily writing into a time for the students to pick an article, read it, and answer a few questions. That's a pretty seamless way to start integrating technology into the daily lessons. Pop over to <a href="http://www.techsavvyed.net/" rel="nofollow">The Tech Savvy Educator</a>, particularly the entries about an <a href="http://www.techsavvyed.net/?p=82" rel="nofollow">online trip to Egypt</a>, <a href="http://www.techsavvyed.net/?p=84" rel="nofollow">mash-up writing</a> (though <a href="http://www.writely.com" rel="nofollow">Writely</a> isn't taking new accounts for the time being), <a href="http://www.techsavvyed.net/?p=116" rel="nofollow">reading chapter books online</a>, and <a href="http://www.techsavvyed.net/?p=86" rel="nofollow">SimCity</a> because there simply must be a way to use SimCity in the classroom for something really cool! Anyone else have any ideas? 6th grade literacy and social studies are outside my area, but give The Amazing Flash Card Machine a try. You can use that for just about any concept, have students create flashcards for each item, include pictures, definitions, whatever you want. This gets them used to working on the computer and dealing with databases. That might be a good starting point for them. I’ve been introducing del.icio.us to my students by posting articles that I feel they might find interesting and then turning the daily writing into a time for the students to pick an article, read it, and answer a few questions. That’s a pretty seamless way to start integrating technology into the daily lessons.

Pop over to The Tech Savvy Educator, particularly the entries about an online trip to Egypt, mash-up writing (though Writely isn’t taking new accounts for the time being), reading chapter books online, and SimCity because there simply must be a way to use SimCity in the classroom for something really cool!

]]> By: ilka http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/04/in-class-computer-lab-use/comment-page-1/#comment-190 ilka Sat, 08 Apr 2006 14:30:18 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=78#comment-190 I am a NYC teacher who has been blessed by her principal. He recently gave me 30 laptops on a rolling cart to use in my classroom between 2 classes. I am not new to computers or its many uses however, I am a little unsure of where to start with my students. I teach 6th grade literacy and social studies courses. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks I am a NYC teacher who has been blessed by her principal. He recently gave me 30 laptops on a rolling cart to use in my classroom between 2 classes. I am not new to computers or its many uses however, I am a little unsure of where to start with my students. I teach 6th grade literacy and social studies courses. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

]]> By: Laurie http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/04/in-class-computer-lab-use/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Laurie Fri, 02 Sep 2005 00:18:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=78#comment-28 If teachers really want to incorporate the use of computers as a communication tool, then they must have ready access to them. I think this means they must be IN THE ROOM. If you have to go to a lab to use a computer, they never become integrated into your planning. Instead, they remain something you do outside of your daily routine.<br /> I have always had a few computers in my room because I have been either the journalism or yearbook advisor. I have learned to maintain my hodgepodge of 14 Apples (I have old G-3 all in ones, Imacs, G-3 and G-4 towers) over the years out of sheer necessity. We have 1 tech at our school to maintain hundreds of computers. Maintaining my lab takes time, a lot of time. However, I do not ever have to schedule time in a lab and then rearrange my lesson plans to fit that schedule, or create a lesson that keeps students on computers for 50 minutes at a time. Instead, computers are part of many of my daily plans in all of my classes and students move fluidly from their tables to the computers and back again. <br /> Would I have this many computers if I hadn't been given the journalism class and with it 5 computers? I am not sure. I used to think that was the answer to encouraging teachers to better utilitze computers. Put computers in the classroom. But, I have seen way to many teachers who let the computers just sit there and collect dust and get in the way and get used during lunch for game playing. Now I think we have to just grandfather them in. As new technology savvy teachers come in to the classroom, give them the computers that the others aren't using. We can't force teachers to use computers. But, we can take their computers and give them to those who want to use them. If teachers really want to incorporate the use of computers as a communication tool, then they must have ready access to them. I think this means they must be IN THE ROOM. If you have to go to a lab to use a computer, they never become integrated into your planning. Instead, they remain something you do outside of your daily routine.
I have always had a few computers in my room because I have been either the journalism or yearbook advisor. I have learned to maintain my hodgepodge of 14 Apples (I have old G-3 all in ones, Imacs, G-3 and G-4 towers) over the years out of sheer necessity. We have 1 tech at our school to maintain hundreds of computers. Maintaining my lab takes time, a lot of time. However, I do not ever have to schedule time in a lab and then rearrange my lesson plans to fit that schedule, or create a lesson that keeps students on computers for 50 minutes at a time. Instead, computers are part of many of my daily plans in all of my classes and students move fluidly from their tables to the computers and back again.
Would I have this many computers if I hadn’t been given the journalism class and with it 5 computers? I am not sure. I used to think that was the answer to encouraging teachers to better utilitze computers. Put computers in the classroom. But, I have seen way to many teachers who let the computers just sit there and collect dust and get in the way and get used during lunch for game playing. Now I think we have to just grandfather them in. As new technology savvy teachers come in to the classroom, give them the computers that the others aren’t using. We can’t force teachers to use computers. But, we can take their computers and give them to those who want to use them.

]]> By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/04/in-class-computer-lab-use/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Todd Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:52:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=78#comment-27 The problem of dealing with limited computer lab space is a big one. How can a small computer lab serve the entire school? It's tough to schedule everything to work. That's one of the big reasons I started getting my lab together, so that I can do what I want, when I want. I don't have to worry so much about scheduling around other functions. We have a computer lab in the library, a place that is often closed down for special presentations or is filled with kids taking tests (AP and other standardized tests). That means the library is unavailable and we lose a computer lab as well as access to books.<br /> <br /> I didn't have any luck collaborating with other teachers, though I didn't try too hard, either. I'm thinking of having the blog project this year revolve around the independent reading I have students do. I'm dealing with 16-18 year olds, but if you want to work on something together, get a hold of me through the <a href="http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/contact/">contact page</a>. The problem of dealing with limited computer lab space is a big one. How can a small computer lab serve the entire school? It’s tough to schedule everything to work. That’s one of the big reasons I started getting my lab together, so that I can do what I want, when I want. I don’t have to worry so much about scheduling around other functions. We have a computer lab in the library, a place that is often closed down for special presentations or is filled with kids taking tests (AP and other standardized tests). That means the library is unavailable and we lose a computer lab as well as access to books.

I didn’t have any luck collaborating with other teachers, though I didn’t try too hard, either. I’m thinking of having the blog project this year revolve around the independent reading I have students do. I’m dealing with 16-18 year olds, but if you want to work on something together, get a hold of me through the contact page.

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