Technology for K-5

This article discusses how a program called Max's sandbox has made microsoft more "kid friendly". Max's sandbox has made the icons simpler and more easy to understand, and limited the choices to just the basic ones that students at these grade levesl are more likey to use. It allows students to learn how to create word documents, power points, and excels. It basically gets them started at the ground level so that they are not as overwhlemed as they would be using regualr Microsoft Office. Because many schools already have Office, adding Max's Sandbox for around $45 will allow younger studetns get a jump start at familiarizing themselves with more advinced programs they will use down the road. It is extremely important to start them young as the use of technology is increasing everywhere. Not only in our schools but in our daily lives. To view this article click here.

Rustle the Leaf

This ia a brief article which addresses the qusetion how technology helps to teach in early chilhood education. www.rusltetheleaf.com is an educational website geared toward young students. It is an environmental website, though it boasts that it is not "preachy" or trying to recruit kids. It is basically just there to teach them about what is going on in the great outdoors. this is beneficial to students in multiple ways. It teaches them first that the computer can be used for eduactional purposes, more thatn just games. It also gives them the knowledge of how to use the computer. And finally the lesson at hand is learning about the outdoors. It provokes investigative questions and gets the children to appreciate the outdoors more. One issue Rustle addresses is soil testing. It makes the students, who at this age probably know little about what soil testing is, ask multiple questoins about the environment. To view this article click here.

Thanks for the Invite Nicki. See you in Class!

Promethean Activboards Increasing Technology in Schools

This article partially addresses one of my question about how technology and activity games can best be used in kindergarten classroom to enhance the learning experience. While it does address technology in the classrooms, it does not discuss kindergarten classes as those at this school have not yet begun using Promethean boards. However, the reason I chose it is because the article is an excellent example of how technology increases the learning experience by engaging students in a much more active way.
To begin the article describes the Premethean Activboard as an interactive white board. It is 68in. wide and four feet tall. Teachers and students change the display as they respond to questions. Students each have their own mouse and use it to respond to teachers questions. Students can even respond anonymously if they are too shy to answer, or worried that their answer is incorrect. This helps the teacher to assist those who may need extra attention.
The Promethean boards have greatly increased the active learning experience in the classroom at this school. Teachers describe that with the activboards all eyes are focused on the material because they are all intrigued by the board.
the cost is about $9000.00 per classroom so it is not something that all schools will be able to implement into their curriculum. However, from the results of this study it seems to be paying off.
Click here to view this article.

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Welcome to my blog! This space was created as a space to learn about and discuss technology in education. Please feel free to comment on any information that I have posted. Any information on the profession of education can be posted and read here.
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