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Using computers in the classroom
This month, we spoke with Katie, a seventh-grade student at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Hanford, California. By Alicia M. Bartol SCR*TEC |
 n Mr. Smyers'
seventh grade language arts and social studies classes, students are expected to
read 25 books a year, write 11 book reports, and complete another five major writing
assignments ... and that's just the big stuff! Students have a bit of help though,
in the form of technological resources and tools that help them get the jobs done.
One of these students, Katie, spoke with us this month about what it's like to
use technology in her classroom, and why she thinks it's important.
"I have been using computers since the first and second grade. We have had a computer at home for a long time too. I mostly used Macs before though," says Katie, who had to learn to use PCs in Mr. Smyers' classroom. "I had a lot of [computer] experience in fifth grade, but only recently had access to the Internet." |
 Katie enjoys using computers for class projects and presentations. |
 r.
Smyers knew that most of the kids didn't have previous exposure to PCs,
so he devised ways to introduce them to PCs in his lessons. Katie says,
"He has given several computer lessons, so I learned a lot about the
Internet, and things that you can do with Microsoft programs." The class
has used software such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and HyperStudio in
their projects and presentations. Katie says, "I enjoy using the computer
for research, and also learning how to use different programs." Recently,
the class started debates on various California legal and social issues.
Katie explains, "Debates are when two people prepare to argue one side
of a topic ... then the whole class turns in a write-up showing what
both sides argued, and our own views on the matter. A few weeks ago,
two people used PowerPoint to do their debate." They can also use HyperStudio
and the digital camera to spice up their presentations. Although not everyone utilizes computers to make informational audio-visual aids, students will probably increase their use of the technology as the year proceeds. Katie says, "As a class, we do lessons on the computer. We learn to use different programs: PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, et cetera." Although traditional resources are also used, computers are a growing source of information for research projects. Katie says, "A lot of students use the computer for research and to type their essays and such. I find using the computer makes writing essays easier, especially the correcting part." |
 esearch
is also made easier by using the Internet. "I think that the computer
is an excellent place to do research," says Katie, "because there is
a lot more out there to find on any subject you might have." The difficult
aspect of using the Net is knowing what is valuable information. Katie
explains, "There isn't really any way to know whether or not information
you find on the Internet is accurate or not. I decide by what information
I get the most. We usually have to get different sources, [so] if two
or more of my sources agree, I assume the information is correct." Increasingly,
teachers and students find that safe surfing isn't the only skill needed
for Internet use ... learning how to locate factual pages is just as
important, and it takes practice. Nevertheless, Katie says, "I have learned lots of interesting things off the Internet in Mr. Smyers' class, mostly while looking for info on a topic, and just reading." Her favorite thing about the Internet is "the access to interesting information or the access to other people and other parts of the world." She adds though, that everyone probably has a different opinion of what the Internet is good for. Overall, Katie says that her classmates enjoy "almost everything that they do on the computer," and that they have a lot of fun. She says, "If I were to become a teacher, I would hope to use the computer to allow my students to get information or allow them to gain knowledge through research and exploration. I would also hope to have most assignments typed, because they are then more professional." |
 atie
ends our talk with one last bit of wisdom. She shares: "Using computers
has enhanced my education by allowing me to explore a whole new world
of things I could not have otherwise seen already. It also allows me
to do much neater and more professional work. I think that everyone
should have access to computers and the Internet for many reasons. Mostly
though, because I know that computers are the future and I think everyone
should be a part of the future, not just those who are lucky enough
to have access to a new and important tool." |
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