Is Your Classroom Computer Buried In the Sand?

Use the Computer as Teacher Tool: Keep records, manipulate information, produce individual letters to parents. Produce a class newsletter. Create customized follow-up work for lessons. Make personalized certificates of achievement. Create customized graphic organizers and direction sheets. Create charts, student lists and name tags. Communicate with other professionals and subject experts via email.

Use the Computer as Multi-Media Chalk Board or Flip Chart: Overhead with an LCD Projector Whole class on TV monitor Note: You will need a television that is ready to connect to the computer or you will have to purchase special equipment. Small group on the computer monitor

Use the Computer as Learning Center: Find information from a website to answer questions for a project Use an atlas or encyclopedia: find some type of information such a six rivers in Africa Utilize software that matches what you’re teaching Complete a webquest or scavenger hunt Use the computer with manipulatives or worksheet. Practice skills on an interactive website Word process a story, a term paper, or some other writing assignment Create illustrations for reports Visit websites and get information on current events View streaming video, take a written quiz afterwards Take a reading test online (Accelerated Reading)

Develop a Written Classroom Policy for Computer Use: Covers issues such as browsing to non-assigned Web sites using e-mail obtaining permission to download images, audio files and video clips citing of online sources care and treatment of hardware; General student behavior while at the computer. Have students and their parents sign a copy of your classroom policy to indicate that they understand, accept and will abide by it. Note: Our district has an Acceptable Use Policy that parents sign on the registration card. This gives permission for internet use. Be sure you check to make sure no parent has disagreed.

Websites to help with Lesson Planning www.thinkfinity.org 4Teachers.org www.brainpop.com www.enchantedlearning.com alex.state.al.us/index www.tripforteachers.org http://teacher.scholastic.com/fieldtrp/k2.htm (Internet field trips) Alabama Virtual Library www.rightinclass.com www.starfall.com www.exploratorium.org http://webquest.org/ www.pbs.org www.internet4classrooms.com www.smithsonian.org www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm www.wtvi.com/teks/integrate/obj3.html