Software Essentials

Well, we have looked at computers and technology in the classrooms over the last few weeks of blogging. With that we also talked adn discussed what is necessary to make the fullest possible learning environment using computers and technology in the classroom. As I plan on moving on to looking at software over the next week or two I feel it is important that we know what to look for in software that we will be exposing to our classrooms. The article that I read for today's blog is just that. It is a short easy read on what to look for in software that is being used in the classroom. This article can be found at: http://www.nsta.org/positionstatement&psid=4&print=y It is like I said an easy read in which you will find what criteria the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) thoughts and declarations on what software should be able to do to get the most out of it.

Improving Student's Learning

This is kind of a step back from where I was heading, but I found this study by a teacher that looks at the significances of using computers in the classroom. I know that we have talked to death about the importance of computers and technology in schools and all feel the same way, but as I skimmed thought the article the teacher talks about other studies that she looked at and what she thought about them. This paper gives us more evidence that technology is slowly making itself into schools and one teachers study on the effects of technology and software throughout her scholar and her research. It was an interesting read, even though I was not looking for it. I get back to discussing software in schools next blog. If interested here is the link: http://personalwebs.oakland.edu/~sjshea/project2printversion.html

Bullying Software

As I have been looking into software that I can use in my fifth grade class, I came across a really neat in short article that was about a bullying software program that teaches both parents and students what bullying is. This really appeals to me because I stress a high level of family and community in t=my class and hate to see my students being picked on. The web page look great unfortunately is was not as kid friendly as I hoped and the virtual school where the actual "game" for learning about bullying was not up and running. This site good be great and very helpful and I will be checking back from time to time to see if it is up and running. I will let you know when it is. Here is the link to the web site: www.e-circus.org

Custom Made Software

This article that I read today was a really cool idea to read about. It basically said that there is a school in Province that has a class creating software for teachers based around individual teachers needs and curriculum. I like this idea because the teacher knows that the software that they are getting is specifically tailored to the individual teachers needs. The article went on to quote some teachers and administrators responding to the class and the software that they created. I think more colleges should be doing this. U.F. is so good about helping teachers and schools around them that they should look into this kind of class. As a teacher I can tell you that I would love to get some software that helps teach the students the curriculum.

Here is the link to the article if you want to read the article: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/ George_Street_Journal/v20/v20n30/software.html

Evaluating Software

Now that I have talked about the importance of software for the past couple of weeks. I have decided it is time to move on to software and the use of software in the classroom. The web page that I checked out this week was for evaluating educational software. This is a good site to check out for both teachers and administration. It is pretty much just a check this of ideas that teaches need to keep in mind when finding software to use in the classroom. It was good to look at and study, but for me some of it was had to understand. The concept although was great and I do believe that software needs to be evaluated before teachers use it in class and I also believe that teachers need to make sure that they are using software productively in class.
Here is the link to the site: http://www.masterteacher.com/standards/charts/1283.pdf

Evaluating Technology

To finish up this week read an article that is from Indiana and states how technology needs to be evaluated in education. This is important because we need to hold teachers accountable that the technology that is being used in the classroom is being used for a good reason. As most would assume technology needs to support the criteria in which it is being used for. computers, software, and other technologies can provide a better and stronger learning environment for all students when used correctly. This speaker states that the main reasons for using the computer in school for instruction would include: curriculum development, instructional design, and assessments (Frick 2006). He also states that it can be used for school organizational systems by: offering leadership, professional development, policies, resources, and development of learning communities (Frick 2006).
This was a great article just to read up on what another state expects as we incorporate more and more technology into the classroom.

Frick, T. 2006, "Criteria for Evaluating Use of Technology in K-12 Education".
March 17, 2007 from: www.education.indiana.edu/keyfrick.html

Making Computer in Classrooms Work

I found this paper online that it seems a student wrote. I was sure if I was going to use it, but it did state some good points and after talking to my wife she said it might be useful for others to know what is needed. To me is was mostly pretty obvious, but he had many numbers and statistics to back up the information that we already know.
Basically this paper stated that computers are becoming more and more regular in the classroom and that the lack of knowledge of computers is hurting the incorporation of computers in the classroom. We all know that technology can frighten away people before they even try it. I think that is why I'm so interested in learning facts and ideas to get other teachers on board for the use of technology in the classroom. This scare makes it hard to use technology and computers to the fullest extent and get the most out of them. This problem needs to be fixed and fixed fast since computers are becoming very popular in society. One of the interesting statistics the write has is that, "80% of students with family incomes of 75,000 dollars or more use computers at home , while only 10% of students use computers at home with a family income of 10,000 dollars (Lee 1999). This means that there is a gap of students that are not getting any interaction with computers and technology, so we as teachers need to get it to them. In order for this to happen though teachers need the right training to use the computers and technology appropriately. The problem goes back to teachers being scare of technology, so what can be done. I laugh because I think of Bransford from our reading this week and picture his answer for this problem would be close to locking teachers in a room and tell them they can't go home until they figure out how to work computers and programs. Not getting to go home at the end of a day would really get that anxiety going.
Anyways, it was a good read to see what information in number form on information I already knew.

Here's the link:
Lee, N. 1999, "Computer Technology in the Classroom."
Retrieved March 13, 2007 from: http://www.msu.edu/~leenicho/paper4.htm