Positive: One positive experience we all shared was the availability to technology in the classroom. With the availability of computers and other things we were able to become familiar with many programs. We were able to use computers for many different assignments at an early age and learn as a group with guidance from our teachers. We feel because we were exposed at an early age we feel more inclined to use technology now.
Negative: When we all were in elementary school we had to do the program "Type to Learn," we all thought it was annoying and did not enjoy it. The program was geared to help us with our typing skills and become familiar with the keyboard. We all became frustrated with it and cheated. Also, our hands were so little that we couldn't really do it. One negative thing from a teachers perspective is that he/she could not monitor all of the children.
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For the negative experience the teacher could have a parent/volunteer come in the day that the children go to the computer lab so that all children are monitored and can be given the attention/help they need. Also, it seems that when we were young children didn't have much interest in computers because there were few advancements and not all of us had them from the start. Now I think children would be more motivated to learn the computer and typing If not, the teacher could give the children an incentive or have the children type what they want to type in response to a question instead of typing something they are not interested in. This might help the situation.
ReplyDeleteI believe the schools this group attended in the past did a great job of giving their students access to technology. When I was in elementary school, I would count down the days until my class got our opportunity to go into the computer lab because we were rarely in there. I do not remember having to complete any assignments on the computer until I was in middle school. Having children become aware of technology and actually using it at such a young age will only benefit them in the future. Since technology has made numerous advancements since we were in elementary school, I believe the students would enjoy taking computer classes at this level. I agree with Megan about having parent volunteers help out on the days that students were in the computer lab if the teacher felt like he/she needed assistance. I don't think the "Type to Learn" program would be popular even today, so the teacher could incorporate lessons on the computer that would require the students to practice typing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the positive experience. I think that computers have really opened up the possiblities for teachers. Teachers now can be so creative with their assignments and how they create them then ever before. Teachers can also vary their assignments for individual students. This makes sure that all students are getting the most out of their learning.
ReplyDeleteFor the negative experience, the teacher could have done several things. First, she could have shortened the time in which the students spent practicing. This would have limited the frustration. Also, she could have added extensions that students could relate to and enjoyed. The typing programs were intended to teach students how to effectively type, which is important at secretary jobs, but not as much when typing a paper. I personally don't type "correctly", but I feel I still type my papers at a steady speed. I think the teacher should have focused on how to use typing programs and how to do different programs.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that using the keyboard to type at a young age was hard. I still don't type the correct way. I think that the teacher should have shortened the time of them learning how to type to lower the amount of frustration or taught them at an older age. I think that the learning to type lesson was not taught in a way to students to injoy and use.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your comment on positive uses. We had at least 2 computers in every classroom when i was in elementary school. The teacher would often use them, and allow us to use them. They would also use it as a reward. If we we finished our classwork and behaved well we could play one game. I always played number munchers, i had the highest score in my class, more then doubled everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the increasing technology that is available in the classrooms. I think this is a positive thing because the technology enhances the students learning. Last semester, our internship had a lot of technological resources that were part of the daily instruction. At Church Lane Elementary School, each classroom had a power point projector, an Elmo, and a smart board. I feel that this technology allows student interactions and helps enhances the instruction, especially for visual learners.
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