Kay

I'm so excited that we have so many teachers who are interested in participating in the BBE blog on technology and are reading the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. When I observe in classrooms, I see significantly increased levels of student engagement in learning when technology is being used. Even reluctant readers appear eager when they have access to the teacher's phonic ear microphone or they are listening to a narrator read a book on the computer and then are able to read the story for themselves. It is not suprising that there is data which suggests computer assisted instruction can be the difference between success and failure for some of our neediest students.

In chapters 1-3 of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, the instructional strategies of setting objectives, providing feedback, and providing recognition all come with practical recommendations for word processing applications, using organizing and brainstorming software, ( including software like Kidspiration, which we have available on all computers,) data collection tools, web resources, and communication tools. In chapter 1 I especially liked the suggestion that teachers have students create a KWHL chart to prompt them to record what they know, what they want to learn, how they plan to learn it and what they learned. There are simple directions about how to make the chart in Microsoft Word which can then be e-mailed to parents or transform it into a Web page that could be added to your Web site. Also in chapter 1 there are several online survey Web sites that I wasn't aware of that make gathering data quick and easy. (See page 26.)

In chapter 2, there are some good suggestions for Web sites that can be used to practice various skills. For example,www.mathplayground.com/index.html is recommended for K-6 students and www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise is also suggested as a good resource for games and quizzes in both math and language skills for grades K-6.

Finally, in chapter 3, there are several resources for providing recognition for students both on the Web and in the form of a certificate or greeting card. Check out the Audio E-mail information on pages 66-67. Think how excited your students would be to hear your voice congratulating them on a job well done via an e-mail message to their parents.

It's inspiring to know we have so many teachers who are willing to learn more about how to use technology as a teaching tool. Thank you to all who are participating in the very first professional learning community blog at BBE!