So this week we worked with a bunch of different programs one of which was kid pixs. This program is one of my favorites. I love to see what students create with it. When I was a sub in kindergarten one of the centers was computers, this program was on it. The students would always be like Miss. K come look at this funny stamp, then they would giggle. I think that is a good way to get students to know the software then when you want to do a project with them they will know what to do. I have thought about some different books I would use, like If you give a mouse a cookie, the purple crayon book, with really young kids you could use Brown Bear Brown Bear what do you see. There are just so many things you can do.
As I was thinking of all these different technologies we are using I started to think about a school I taught in. There was only five extra computers for the whole school, no computer lab. What is a good way to get these projects in for students if you don't have the sources? I mean sometimes it's easier to do projects as a whole group. I was just wondering what other people thought....
I always think about ways to incorporate technology at schools who simply don't have the resources or money to use it! It's definitely a good question that I wish I had the answer to. I think I was telling the class (or maybe just Dr. Schmidt) last Wednesday about how I have a smart board in my room, but nobody seems to know where the infocus projector is! It's very frustrating because a smart board is such a great tool to have and I can't even use it. For "computer lab", my school probably has about 5 working computers for the students. Nobody ever uses them either. I've been to schools that have a ridiculously awesome media center and also schools that have no idea what a media center is. . what can you do at schools like the latter besides request funds from the district?
ReplyDeleteYou just voiced something that I have been thinking about the past couple of weeks. I do not like to play the card 'where I come from', but I believe that I will be forgiven just this once. So then, where I come from, several schools do not even have enough books or desks for all the students, what's to say about computers. What is interesting though to note is that most of those learners have a cellphone. I know that I am referring to an extreme situation, but my point is that perhaps a TPACK approach to language teaching utilizes the resources that ARE available? So with those kids without books, but with phones, perhaps audio or video recordings of some activities could work? I guess to just reiterate my point, sometimes there are just way too much red tape to cut through to get the things you want, however, without giving up the struggle, in the mean time, utilize those resources that you can easily access in innovative and creative ways.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great question to post! I think all of you have had great responses too. I honestly don't know what there is to do if you don't have the resources, but I think Leandi's point of having a TPACK mindset is right on. You have to plan your lesson and think about how you can incorporate what you do have into your classrooms. We have also learned about some free programs. I feel that teachers need to remember these as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is a little off topic, but still fits. There is a new tv show this year that is very similar to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but instead of redoing homes, the people knock down schools and rebuild them. The schools chosen for this project are ones that may not have some of the types of resources we were taking about. I caught a glimpse of a commercial for this program, and the ad showed the schools receiving some very nice technology. How awesome is this program? I'm excited to watch this show and see everything that the schools receive.
Great conversation everyone! This is such a huge challenge for all of us- wherever we live! The digital divide is something that we can not ignore because if we do we contribute to the problem. Leandi does give us some good advice --- think back to TPACK. And if you review the model, you will notice that blue dotted line around the venn diagram. That dotted line represents "context." As each of you have noted, context is different for everyone! We need to address this issue in class a bit more and explore our feelings as well as our ideas.
ReplyDeletePS -- I have to see the show Krystina is talking about!