Each year I try and allow my students to type their written compositions for multiple purposes. The first and foremost is that it is easier for me to grade if they are typed :). The second is so that they are familiar with either Microsoft Word or Open Office Writter.
On Friday, my students were allowed to have the laptops for the first time and were able to start typing their essays from a edited rough draft. The best part of this element this year, is that my students were required to take Keyboarding as an elective in 6th grade if they weren't double blocked in math. This allowed me to see that my students were more familiar with the basics of typing. This skill will take them so far in life, and I was happy to see that they were easily able to navigate my instructions of using shortcut keys in putting in their heading, title, starting their essay, and taking number lock off.
The essay project showed me that through my previous elements in the classroom of modeling Open Office (on the projector) and using powerpoints to lead them through the writing process, they were finally able to write on their own. My main evaluation comes off of observation and the submissin to blackboard of their final essay. I believe that the students this year are more familiar with Open Office and are able to grow in elements of using grammar and spell check to help with editing and revising. Effectiveness of this integration will be key for the rest of 8th grade and when they go to high school. In our district they will be required to know black board and use Open Office, so I know that I am effectively preparing them for the future.
As a teacher, I use technology every day in my instruction by showing and using powerpoints to discuss everything that I do in my classroom. I hope that through this course, I can have my students start to use more technology themselves and that I can do less and less.
I am excited that this upcoming week, I start my tutoring for ELL learners in the mornings. I am hoping that on our second day with each group to do a digital scavenger hunt on our campus. I know that technology must be incorporated into this program and am looking for computer games that we can play as well as we learn vocabulary for ELL 1's and for content vocabulary for ELL 2's.
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