High Tech Calisthenics: Collaborative Technology-Based Workstations in the High School Classroom Emily Buchanan November 22, 2010

Workshop Objectives 1.Understand the benefits of using technology work stations in the high school classroom. 2.Celebrate the benefits of having students work collaboratively. 3.Explore useful online resources for integrating technology in your own classroom. 4.Have fun!

Why Collaborative Work Stations? Students who don’t normally participate won’t feel as alienated. – Most students feel more secure in smaller groups, and you can keep “talkative” students apart by creating your own groups. Sometimes, students are better at teaching their peers than we are. – Two head are better than one! Useful strategy for differentiation/tiered assignments. – Strategically group students based on learning styles, interests, readiness levels.

Why Collaborative Work Stations? Speaks to a variety of learning styles – Breaks up the monotony of everyday lectures and individual seat work. Great for anticipation/review activities for units! – Cover a relatively large amount of information in one class period. Class goes by faster! – Great for students with short attention spans

Station 1 Use the Mimio software/hardware to navigate the following website: Take turns using either the Mimio Pad or the Interactive Pen to find things that interest you from this site. Under the “Station 1” section of your worksheet, record at least five things from the site that you may want to use in your classroom. Open a blank Mimio page, and write some of your best ideas on this page for the next group to view and add to.

Station 2 Work together with your group to create a skit that explains how student collaboration is essential in the classroom. Consider the differences between learning styles among the students in your classrooms. Use the Flip Camera and Tripod to record your skit. You may step out into the hallway to record if you don’t have enough space in my office. Under “Station 2” on your worksheet, explain how your skit demonstrates the usefulness of student collaboration.

Station 3 Work with your group members to use the computer in the back of the classroom to explore the following website: Pay special attention to information on technology integration by viewing the brief article “How do special education students benefit from technology?” under the “Here’s What’s New” section of Learn NC’s homepage.How do special education students benefit from technologyHere’s What’s NewLearn NC’s homepage Within that article, you will find hypertext that will lead you to other resources (learn nc’s technology integration page).learn nc’s technology integration page

Station 4 How are you smart? Test your knowledge! Each group member should have a laptop. You may discuss this activity with your group, but you should complete the task individually. Visit the following website, and complete this “pretest” on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences: Record how well you did under “Station 4” on your worksheet. Then, complete your own MI test to figure out which types of intelligences are your strengths by clicking “Take A Test” on the top tool bar of the homepage of the following website: t/multiple_int/index.htm t/multiple_int/index.htm Under “Station 4” on your worksheet, record the results of your quiz and which intelligences you think that the collaborative work stations activities can speak to.

After the stations… Discussion/ Questions Volunteers to share information Go over the worksheets Create “class lists” of the information students should have recorded. Exit Ticket to reinforce the “discovered” information: – What was your favorite/least favorite station, &why? – How does the information you learned/discovered today relate to what we’ve been studying in class? – How well did your group work together to complete the assigned tasks?

Side Note: TEP Helpful Hint Penzu.com is a free, private online journaling site Penzu.com Costs money to up grade, but the free version will meet your professional needs. Not only is it a good way to meet the goals of Standard 5 (Reflection) on the new TEP, but it also is a way to document your use of technology.

Thank you for coming! Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please fill out the evaluation form.