A Jigsaw Classroom

With only five computers in a classroom, it can get challenging to teach children needed computer skills. This is where the Jigsaw method comes into play. A great way to use the computers in this way would be to split the classroom into five groups. Then assign each student something to learn about a certain feature of a word processor. If you were using Microsoft Word you could split it up into areas such as creating a table, inserting a picture, using Word Art, how to create columns, inserting a text box, etc. Each student would spend time at the computer individually, learning their important task. Then, all the students who were assigned the same task would come together as "experts" and practice showing the other kids in their groups how what they are doing works. Then they would go back to their groups and explain each step they used to their group.

There are many positive aspects to this method. One is that it can be very time efficient if you only have five computers for your entire classroom. It also allows the students to interact with each other in a positive manner. Each student has a very important part in the group, which means that each student feels important. This will help encourage them to participate and also feel good about their participation. This also allows students the opportunity to learn and teach. When they are teaching their other classmates it can be an encouraging experience because they feel like they are helping someone else in a way they couldn't help themselves.

Although there are many good things about the Jigsaw method, there are some disadvantages. One of these would be the fact that some students struggle in learning. They could be slow learners or have a hard time learning things on the computer. These students would need extra time to succeed in the task given them. Another disadvantage of doing this with computers is the fact that you would need to have another activity to do while their classmates are learning their particular part of the project. This would take extra time and effort. You wouldn't want to introduce something new while other students are on the computers.

The Jigsaw method is a great method to use in classrooms with or without diversity. The benefits of cooperative learning are huge and will be transferred to other tasks. It will show the students that not everything in a classroom is competition, cooperating could actually be a good thing. Getting the students involved in their own learning will create an atmosphere of creativity and friendship.

Google Apps for Educators

The technology supported by Google offers an exciting way for educators to help their students. After reviewing some of the things that they offer educators, I've discovered three tools that I really like.

• Google Earth's Sky feature. This feature is just like Google Earth, but it deals with astrology. It also affers an option for looking at the stars with the mythological symbols and their myths explained. I would use this feature in the classroom to help me prepare lessons about outer space, or even just constellations. I could also assign a child or groups of children an assignment to find a constellation and get the picture and tell the story about it. Because I will be working with fifth graders I will be able to use this app to help me introduce planets and the other parts of the solar system.
• Google News. This feature allows students to view contemporary headlines from around the world, or to search through news archives. It would be easy to use this with students who were doing reports. For an essay I would require one source from the time period that it took place. This would be easy for things from the 1950s on. This tool would really help the students understand what people were saying when their event happened.
• Google Notebook. This feature lets you save information you get from the internet, as well as commenting on the things you do clip in there. You can keep your notebooks private, or you can share them with the other people you want to contribute to it. This means that if I am making lesson plans on something specific and will need to bring in other information, I can put it all in one place. I can also have each student collect one piece of information on a certain topic and then put it in a notebook that I am sharing with all of them. This will allow them to all be a part of the learning that is happening in the classroom.

The apps provided by Google are amazing tools that can easily be used in the classroom to increase the learning and participation that students do. Another great app is Google Docs. This applications is the word processor for Google. It has a lot of the same functions as Microsoft Word. A great way to use this application with the students is in collaborating on a project. If they have to write an essay together, they can easily put it into Google Docs and edit it in real time with each other. It is also great because if they go home and edit it, the changes they make will be made in their partners paper also. Then, they can share the document with me when they are finished. This would allow me to edit the paper electronically, and they will instantly have a copy of what I edited. Google Docs allows a lot more freedom for editing in groups, and also for teachers who want to get the edited copies back to the students as soon as possible.

Technology has changed the way educators teach and interact with their students. There are so many tools out there for educators, there is no reason why educators should not take advantage of these tools.

Assistive Technology

As teachers it has become increasingly important to utilize assistive technology in the classroom. These technologies can range anywhere from helping students use computers to using technology to help children with disabilities. Here I will discuss one of many options for assistive technology.

For many children taking notes in class is not enough to help them learn the content. Inventors have developed a new technology that is entirely contained in a pen. The technology is called a Smartpen. This pen allows students to take notes on special paper, while also recording the lecture they are listening to. When they touch the pen on the notes they wrote it will say the part of the lecture that the notes were taken in. This allows students who have a hard time remembering what was said, or who struggle with notes, the ability to have the entire lecture right at their hands without having to worry about the little things. It also has the ability to turn into a calculator. If the students set it to the correct mode and then draw a calculator they can then solve problems with the help of the pen. I believe that this will help all forms of students. The features of the pen are amazing and will revolutionize the way that students all over the world take notes. Teachers could integrate this technology in their classrooms with little change or hassle. This means that a lot of teacher would be more willing to use them than if they were a high maintenance tool.

Though this pen will help students take notes and retain information better, it does not take away the responsibility of the student to actually learn. That is why I believe that it will be such a great too. It will assist in learning, but will not make student responsibility obsolete.