United States
Read about three teachers
– just like you! – using technology to make a difference
in their classrooms.
That's where technology resource teacher Diane Painter comes in. She assists K-6 teachers and students with using computer technology while teaching full time at Deer Park Elementary School in Centreville, VA. And somehow she finds time to lead the school's teacher research team that explores technology issues. During the course of this research, Painter has found that when students use technology as they work in teams, they develop a variety of literacy skills. These skills, Painter says, include cooperative learning, reading, writing, and technical skills. She's also seen an improvement in students' oral presentation skills as they present their team projects to the class, as well as an improvement with social development skills (developing positive relationships and enhanced self-esteem). "This sense of pride for a job well done is richly illustrated by one sixth-grade student," Painter says. This student worked with a team of four other students to develop a Web page for a competition. "I liked working in a group because it seems to be like working on a project in the business world," he told her. "Everyone has to work together to get the job done." To learn more about the Deer Park School technology research projects, visit the Deer Park School Web page at http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DeerParkES/TR/tchrch.htm.
"I have seen how computer integration can help students enjoy the hands-on involvement with technology and music-making," Benz says. "It has made practicing more fun for my students." Benz blends technology with music instruction in a number of ways. For instance, he has students visit the music department's website to download MIDI files. The files might feature chords and rhythm in an improvised arrangement to help students learn to create their own music. In doing so, Benz has seen marked improvement with students in composing solos. Benz also encourages his students to use the Internet to seek out information for projects and websites relating to the music they're studying. In the future, he hopes to initiate a "virtual music classroom" project to support parent and student communication. He would have lessons videotaped and converted to streaming media and made available on the class website. "I'm excited about the multitude of emerging resources for technology integration in our classes," Benz says. "I look forward to finding new ways to reach out to my students, their parents, and our community with music."
Marci has also found that parents enjoy keeping up with what their kids are doing in school by checking out her website. They tell her that they find the site very informative, and they often refer to it for class updates. The site grew out of Marci’s desire for a Web page for her class where students could publish their work and she could communicate with their families. With no experience creating a website, she went to MySchoolOnline’s webCreate tool and learned how to build the site. Marci’s regular use of the Internet doesn’t prevent her from using tried-and-true traditional teaching materials. She says she just considers the Internet one of her many available resources. For instance, for a lesson on Christopher Columbus her materials included a poster with pictures of his ships, a world map, handouts for each student, and a related website. She says her students now think of the Internet as a place to find information. "They also know that their work is valuable enough to be published there, too. They’re just thrilled to see their own names on the screen," she says. Marci recommends that her peers also use the Internet in their teaching methods. "Internet use can be highly engaging for young children," she says. "They can learn about differences in weather, the jobs grown-ups do, how other children go to school, and where they live. It expands their concept of the world." For teachers just starting out using the Internet, Marci suggests they gather safe online sources that can be integrated into curricula, join a mail ring, and ask other teachers for help. "Then have your students participate in online projects and just watch their enthusiasm grow!"
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