Between the State SchoolNET appropriations and the recently passed Capital Improvements Levy, our school district is ready to substantially increase access to technology in the classroom. As teachers, you have the bottom line responsibility for making effective use of this technology.
Although the Internet is receiving most of the press lately, computers do considerably more than access the World Wide Web. And computers are only one form of technology. When learning about technology in education, don't focus on the hardware (computers, video cameras, laser disks, telephones, etc.) but on what that technology can do. It can enhance what we already do, as well as, do things that were not practical before. As professionals, we need to make sure we are involved in defining the priorities for use of technology. Consider the curricular areas that you think could benefit from new strategies and ask the district support specialists to help you identify useful resources.
Information Sources - The primary source material needed to solve a problem or answer a question. The Internet is a huge repository of information. The problem is determining which material is accurate and useful. The importance of critically evaluating information has never been more significant. Commercial databases, CD-ROMs, videotapes and laser disks are often more authoritative sources. Even in this age of electronics, print resources can be simpler to use and more reliable for many needs.
Information Tools - help organize information so that it can be better understood. Examples include word processing, outlining, spreadsheets, databases, mapping and charting software.
Tutorials, skills practice - There are basic skills that students need to know in order to solve curriculum based problems and participate in the critical thinking projects we want students involved in. Well designed software provides needs-based instruction, practice and feedback to the learner.
Diagnostic Tools - Knowing more about your students' strengths and weaknesses will allow you and your students to know what to practice and improve. This takes on new meaning as technology is networked. Information about how a student is doing with every teacher and has done in the past can be effortlessly shared.
Communication/Collaboration Tools - Diagnostic information is not just statistics. Observations by people canmake sense out of numbers. Technology can assist in discussions. Patterns can be seen more quickly and interventions coordinated without always meeting in person.
Putting these tools in the hands of learners allows them to communicate with other learners, far-flung experts and participate in surveys, research, contests and projects.
Simulations - can help students understand the cause and effect of interrelated processes that are difficult or impossible to re-create in the classroom.
Presentation Tools - provide the means to communicate your ideas to an audience. Recent technology improvements have made audio, graphics, animation, and now even video almost as easy to create and edit as the typical word processed document. Multi-media can increase interest and improve understanding.
Your Library/Information Specialist can help you identify and evaluate resources to meet your curricular needs. Identified software and other materials can be previewed before purchase. The Educational Computer Consortium of Ohio (ECCO) in South Euclid and the district's Educational Resource Center at Taylor school maintain libraries of curricular resources you can examine and/or borrow.
One of the Internet's strengths is in sharing. You can find teacher/librarian reviews of instructional resources at the following sites.
Ohio SchoolNET Resource Finder (K-5 software) http://www.enc.org/rf/ssrp/ssrpfinder.htm
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse Resource Finder (Math & Science K-12 resources) http://www.enc.org/rf/index.htm
California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse (video and software) http://clearinghouse.k12.ca.us/c/search.html
Teaching and Learning Magazine online software reviews http://www.techlearning.com/c/swsearch.html
BookList magazine (books, video, software) http://www.ala.org/booklist/
Amazon.com online bookseller - (book reviews) http://www.amazon.com/