The purpose of this Action Research Project is to show how easily computers can be accessible to

teachers and their students without impacting the instructional time in the classroom.

When a teacher is struggling to do two things

•learn to use technology

•learn to incorporate new practices into their repertoires

results don’t appear quickly

“Combining computer skills and the ability to use computers and other technology to improve learning,

productivity, and performance – has become as fundamental to a persons’ ability to navigate through society as traditional skills like reading, writing, and

arithmetic.”

US Department of Education. (1996). Getting america’s students ready for the 21st century: Meeting the technology literacy challenge. Washington DC: US Department of Education. Retrieved on February 6, 2003, from

http://www.ed.gov/Technology/Plan/NatTechPlan/execsum.html.

The US Department of Education’s Getting America’s Students Ready for the 21st Century: Meeting the

Technology Literacy Challenge states:

reading writing arithmetic

In many instances we have technology in place at our schools. The challenge confronting schools is to

make teachers semi-computer literate.

Show the teachers how to use that knowledge to quickly and effectively create student usable

instructions enabling students to successfully and independently navigate throughout computer

projects that enhance established curriculum.

If the teachers do not know how to effectively use computer technology without hindering mandated

instruction, computers will remain idle.

Microsoft’s PowerPoint program allows the educator to accomplish this goal by quickly

creating instruction sheets that the students use to successfully complete assigned projects

throughout the curriculum.

I will research if the use of computers in the classroom results in higher test scores in

reading and writing. I will follow a sample of elementary students and track their progress

throughout Jr. High, High School, and College.

Then use the increase of test scores to motivate teachers to invest the time to learn how to

incorporate computers in the classroom curriculum.

Today I will teach you how to Today I will teach you how to make a recording you can input make a recording you can input

into a Students PowerPoint into a Students PowerPoint Portfolio Portfolio

A common method of assessing a students current reading ability is give a timed fluency reading. Using Microsoft PowerPoint a teacher can easily create directions a student can follow to make a recording of themselves reading a selection of text and save it in the student’s personal computer portfolio.

The student, teacher,or parent can review the recording later at parent conferences, IEP meetings, and used during report card grading.

It is simple and quick to make easy to follow directions even you can follow.

I use screen shots or screen captures of the actual dialog boxes the student will use. This enables the student to see which buttons to push exactly as they will experience them on the screen.

This enables the teacher to quickly make directions that students can use to navigate throughout their portfolios to finish assignments and build their portfolio.

Today’s assignment

Make a Microsoft PowerPoint recording of a one minute fluency reading for your student

portfolio.

Open their PowerPoint portfolio

Insert a recording of them reading for one minute

Save their work in their portfolio

The student will accomplish this independently by following the

directions you create

The student will:

To create a picture of all or parts of your screen, hold down these keys. A plus sign (+) means keys are held down together.

Press these keys To do this

Create a picture file of the entire screen

Create a picture file of a rectangular section of the screen. (After pressing and releasing the key combination, drag across the part of the screen you want to take a picture of).

To copy a section of the screen or a window to the clipboard instead of saving it as a file, press the Control Key as press the key combination. ctrl

+

Open your PowerPoint presentation(See How to Open a PowerPoint Document)

Open your PowerPoint presentation(See How to Open a PowerPoint Document)

•Choose the Insert pull down menu

•select Movies and Sounds

•select Record SoundPress Record to begin recording

Press Stop to end recording

Press Play to hear what

you recorded Practice what you are going to record

Hold up the recording sign

Wait for Permission

Make your recordingPress Save

Name Your Sound

Press OK

Use AutoShapes to make boxes and use the paint bucket to color them in.

Use the lines and arrows tools and even the 3D box maker as you have time.

Draw Tool Bar

Text Box

Insert Word Art

Insert Clip Art

Insert Picture from File

Use these buttons to add color and format the thickness of lines and boxes

To dress up your instructions sheet try the

following tool bars