Using Technology as a Tool to Involve

Learners

Mary Johnston

Library Media Specialist

Joshua Eaton Elementary School

mjohnston@reading.k12.ma.us

Technology and the Learner

Choose technology which helps create ownership of the material being learned and presented.

Use technology as a reflection tool. Put digital and video cameras in students’ hands

to give them a tool to interact with their world allowing them to experience classroom content by applying it and explaining it in the world around them.

Use programs that allow students to interact with the curriculum.

Technology Tools

Questgarden Windows Movie Maker VoiceThread Blogging and Podcasting Flip Video Cameras Power Point

QuestGarden QuestGarden is an authoring tool which makes it

easier for teachers to create Webquests as well as use and modify already existing Webquests

A Webquest creates a project in which students take on a role to complete an assigned task. Role playing helps to get students involved in their learning. Their research and delivery of the research has a purpose. Students are not just reporting on information, their information has a defined audience.

Movie Maker(or Photo Story 3)

Writing scripts to narrate their movies helps students process the information they have learned.

Audio feedback of their writing creates revision naturally. Students notice when their writing doesn’t make sense to themselves and their audience.

Editing the movie reinforces the content they are learning through revisiting their work.

VoiceThread VoiceThread allows students to interact with

the curriculum by recording comments, questions, and observations.

They get immediate feedback and can respond to each other.

There are countless ways to use VoiceThread with the curriculum

Center 1. Voice thread:Use our routine of visual thinking.

I see…I think…

I wonder…

Some questions specifically for Image 1 and 2:Compare and contrast these two images:

What kinds of people do you see?What do you think they are feeling or thinking?

What are they doing?Are all the people doing and thinking the same?

Do you notice any symbols in the colored image? What do you think they stand for?

For all the images and poem:Do you think these images tell the exact truth? What do you think is the truth?

What do you think is exaggerated?

What do you think these images mean? Make some inferences and connections with our readings and class discussions.

Blogging and Podcasting

Blogging gives students a purpose and audience for their writing.

It allows the opportunity for reflection on curriculum, opinions, and events in the student’s lives.

Audio recordings created by students can help bring the curriculum to life.

Video Cameras Gives students a fun tool to show what they know Helps students clarify to themselves new content they are learning Quickly gives teachers feedback on student understanding and

misunderstandings

Power Point

Creates excitement and pride Good program for photographs taken by

students Can help each student take a part in learning

then teaching a bigger concept