On the Trails

a. How do you arrange for and track student time on the computers to guarantee equal access?

• Teachers in my school have access to multiple wireless computer carts.  Although in the K- 2 world there are still clusters.  In order to ensure equal access, teachers should NOT think of using the computer as an extra – or a “when you get done with your “real” work you can go on the computer.”   It is quite simple, if the task is important, than the scheduling of equal computer time is a must.  Learning Centers is the way.

b. What classroom procedures will you establish to ensure that all students are contributing to the project, staying on task, and working productively when using the computer?

• Project Checklists and lab management software like Synchroneyes
• Move around the room – old fashioned yes, but it shows the kids that you are interested in what they are doing
• Be a part of the project yourself, not just the “teacher”

c. What procedures do you have in place to ensure that students who need assistance when working on the computer get the help they need? How do you do this without interrupting instruction or other activities that may be happening in the classroom?

• Peer coaching
• I also make Just-in-Time Tutorials
• For every project that I give, I have one Foreman – the person who can provide the help and monitor the activities.

d. Discuss best practices for managing student use of computers in a lab setting. List potential problems and discuss possible strategies that can be used to prevent or solve each problem.

• If your school does not possess lab management software like Synchroneyes or the open source version, iTalc, you must convince them.  With this software, a teacher can:
• view all student screens
• take control of student screens to demo something or get their attention
• send messages to only one student
• take control of a group of computers
• take screenshots of malicious behavior
• remote access to turn off the computers
• Teachers should have a plan for the kids who are done first
• Use tabbed browsing so that a “Magis” activity can be undertaken when the students are “done”
• Practice computer skills first – like copying and pasting – before starting the project or lesson
• Tell your kids that they have a mistake quotient of 50 mistakes – tell them it is ok to try and fail – we don’t all succeed on the first try

e. Brainstorm ways to manage, store, and transfer files so that students can locate and access them regardless of operating system or program software. List your ideas.

• Saving things to the school’s network is thinking that is outdated and it locks kids to the school
• Try saving things to the Internet
• Encourage parents to open Google Docs Accounts that can be password protected so that kids can save their work there
• Use the comment section of blogs to “hold” learned information
• Design projects so that students have to use information and not just memorize it for a test
• If students are old enough to write papers, reports, etc. – they are old enough to have their own storage using something like Google docs.  Encourage students to share their work the teacher, so that the document can be edited, commented on, etc. by the student as well as the teacher
• Use Open Office instead of Microsoft Word so that file formats are not a problem – or use Google Docs
• Store information on a classroom wiki (moderated of course)

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