Technology as a requirement
For this first week of school, I took all Alt. School students to a computer lab to set up email addresses to use for various projects throughout the year. I was (pleasantly) surprised that so many students had little/no trouble creating a new email address. There was plenty of grumbling about doing it ("Why can't I just use my fluffybunny@yahoo account?") but in the end the students did a fine job of setting things up and sending their first emails to me.
Using the fabulous ABtutor software in the computer lab, I then took them on a tour of the revamped Alt. School website, including my own site. I showed them how they will be using the homework dropbox and the link to the survey I have posted on who should be the next President of the United States. I must say, each student stared in wondrous amazement as I guided them around the net from the comfort of each chair in the room. Technology can be a great thing!
Questions that I am pondering--I really want my students to use blogger.com, how can students do this if it's blocked by the firewall? Is there more to GoogleEarth than just flying around visiting far off lands from the comfort of your couch at home? (And yes, a student did clue me into the flight simulator function!) How do I go about finding funding if there is a technology that I want for my classroom (clickers!)?
2 comments:
Wow, way to go getting started this year! We'll have to talk about the Blogger issue as the block is new this year . . . and I know there are lesson plans associated with Google Earth . . . I'll try to follow up on that.
Funding is a perpetual challenge. There are lots of grants available - start with the Foundation. Write a really strong proposal and just revise it for different grant opportunities.
Post a Comment