TECHNOLOGY
IN THE CLASSROOM
(A TLC/LRCE Workshop)
Presented
by Sarah Smitherman
Friday, June 24, 2005
NEW!!!!
See the Hot Lists Created by TLC Practitioners
(Grouped by Grade Levels and Content Areas)
Overview (click to go to topic):
1. Why Technology Is Important
1. Why Technology Is Important
Technology is an important aspect of education, and its integration into the classroom is a requirement for all teachers by the Louisiana Department of Education (http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/index.html). There are six technology standards, as outlined by the LA Department of Education (http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/ssa/1222.html), and specific performance indicators are given according to grade levels K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. See the Adobe file: Louisiana Technology Standards or the Word file: LA Technology Performance Indicators.
Example of a game in the classroom: Jeopardy template
What are hot lists? They are lists of web sites (URL's: Uniform Resource Locator) that a teacher compiles for students. This list is meant to be a resource for students, as in suggestions for places to search concerning particular topics. Hot lists do not require students to perform a specific task related to the web sites, nor are there questions directly related to the sites for students to answer. A hot list is merely a list of links.
Examples of Hot Lists:
Directed Browsing is different from Hot Lists, for directed browsing involves the teacher giving specific questions or tasks related to a particular topic. Thus, directed browsing requires more directives from the teacher. Directed browsing can be done in centers, where the teacher places specific links (URL's) on the desktop or pastes them into a Word document.
Examples of Directed Browsing:
TrackStar is a program created by HPR*TEC (High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium, found on the Internet at http://www.hprtec.org/) that allows teachers to create web sites to appear within one web page. In addition to TrackStar, HPR*TEC provides QuizStar and RubiStar, along with many other resources, for teachers to assess and integrate technology in the classroom.
Before we create a track, first we need to decide on what the track will focus. Then we need to find web sites (specific URL's) that we want to include on our TrackStar. Select at least four (4) web sites, but no more than fifteen (15). Groups will be created, organized around particular interests or content areas. Together the group will complete a " WORKSHOP GROUP SHEET" before proceeding to the next step.
Here are the steps to creating a TrackStar:
1) Go to HPR*TEC's home page: http://www.hprtec.org/.
2) Click on the link for TrackStar.
3) Click on the link "Create an Account and Start Making Tracks."
4) Register.
5) Once registration is complete, click the link that goes to "Manage My Tracks."
6) Select the button, "Make New Track."
7) Type in the requested information. The type of track we will be making is a WORKSHEET.
8) Once all of the information has been entered, click "Next" at the bottom of the page. (If you have left out any necessary information, TrackStar will return you to this page until all data has been entered.)
9) Type in the title of each site that you will be listing, then the URL. Give an annotation (summary/description) of the site. This information should be as specific and useful as possible.
10) Select the button, "Save" once you have entered all of the sites.
11) You will be given a Track Number. Select the link, "Manage My Tracks." You will be taken to a list of the tracks you have created.
A WebQuest is the most thorough, time-intensive form of web searching of these topics presented. WebQuest was designed by Bernie Dodge and Tom March. Each researcher has their own specific design process. Most WebQuests require at least two weeks of collaboration in order to create a good webquest.
Bernie Dodge outlines steps for creating a WebQuest (http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designsteps/index.html), and the resulting WebQuest page should include the stages of:
1) Introduction
2) Task
3 ) Process
4 ) Resources
5 ) Evaluation
To see a flowchart for these stages, visit Creating a WebQuest.Tom March follows the steps of exploring, designing and creating. An interactive explanation can be found at: http://www.ozline.com/webquests/design.html. He outlines what WebQuests truly involve on the site: http://bestwebquests.com/what_webquests_are.asp. Some of what he believes to be the "Best" WebQuests can be found at: http://bestwebquests.com/.