FDN 5220: Computers in Educational Settings

SESSION 2:  Role of Computers in Education

In what ways might computer technologies change the environment in which your students learn?  How might these changes affect your role as a teacher and your students' roles as learners? What will teachers and students actually do differently from what they do now?

Discuss the implications of the notion of computers as mindtools as described in chapters 1 and 2 of the text.

How do each of the following categories of computer software/uses fit the mindtool idea?

• Drill & Practice

• Tutorial

• Managing the Instructional Process

• Course of Study

• Mindtool

Evaluating Software 

Your principal has heard that you are taking this course. She asks you to prepare a workshop for teachers with the school's technical support person concerning ways to determine whether a specific software purchase is justified. In small groups, outline your workshop in terms of topics and discuss five major points you would make. 

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Integrated Lessons Demonstration:  

How can we integrate computer tools into instruction? Describe how each of the following provides an example of computer technology integration. Make a list of DPI objectives that can be met by each example.

• The Cost of Smoking - (excel version) | (MS Works version) 
  -- from the NCDPI.

• Car Finances

• County Hunter simulation (optional)

Check out this image and create a lesson for your students that involves NCDPI objectives from at least 2 different K-12 subject areas as well as the computer curriculum.

• Share your integrated lessons using the image "Earth at Night" in small groups, then each group will share one from the group with the whole class.

Explore these sites for further ideas in the use of computer technologies as mindtools. Included here are some projects other teachers in our program have developed: 

• Resources for You

• Teacher projects

• Web Resources for Educators, 

• Dogsong  

• Virtual fieldtrips for students ( A list of some possible on-line fieldtrips)

• Global School Net (Collaborative Projects using computer communications)

• NC Wise Owl (Investigate the kinds of information available here) 

Reflection

In small groups, discuss what it means to you, at this point, to use computer technologies as mindtools. How do these fit into your ideas concerning integrated lessons?

Be prepared to discuss your thoughts - and your experiences - with the whole class during the next class meeting.

ASSIGNMENTS

• Read the following articles and participate in the online discussion (Under the appropriate "Readings" sub-group).
  • Waste Not, Want Not

• Explore the following publications for current and future information.

  • From Now On (Jamie McKenzie's web magazine) 

  • Project-based Learning (George Lucas Foundation)

  • Transforming Instruction This resource center includes an extensive collection of stories, articles, and special reports from the eSchool News archives, all carefully chosen to help you effectively integrate technology into your instruction. How do these resources "fit in" with the mindtools concepts?

Review the ISTE/NETS standards for  teachers and check the computer competencies listed for school administrators. Investigate the resources found in this site designed for administrators by by students in this class. Explore the implications and applications of these newly adopted standards to your schools and classes in the online discussion (under "Skills and Standards"). What statements would you make about your knowledge, skills and teaching if you and your teaching were to be measured by these standards? Please help us to learn more about what you need by completing the self-evaluation of North Carolina Basic Skills Inventory linked here (Technology Skills Database).

• Read Chapter 14 in our assigned text.  Discuss your reactions to the major ideas in this chapter as they relate to you and your experiences under "The concept of mindtools" on our course discussion group.
• Read "Technology as Diversion" By Jamie McKenzie and discuss with several colleagues when you can best use technology to enhance instruction.

• Continue to explore lessons and models of lessons which use technology as mindtools.

• Bring to class a video tape from which we will capture an image. Determine what image manipulation software you have on your home or school computer (such as photoshop, image composer, etc.).
• I will send out a message "test" on our listserv today....if you do not receive it, you are not on the list. Please join it as soon as possible.