Technology in the Classroom
During the course of my student teaching semester, as well as during my field experiences, I have planned lessons that utilized various types of technologies. Technology has the capacity to expand student engagement, increase productivity for both teachers and students, and facilitate the presentation of concepts in a multitude of ways. Interactive technologies, such as the Smart Board, allow students to physically manipulate items for a more authentic learning experience. Although technology can be especially beneficial and supportive in the classroom, it should not overreach its role: technology is supplemental to instruction. Moreover, technology-failure must be anticipated. As a result, I plan each lesson so the day's activities may continue, even in the event of a power-outage or electronic failure.
Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together
and motivating them, the teacher is most important.
- Bill Gates
Above: Using the Smart Board to teach an interactive social studies lesson on Ohio's Native Americans. A student manipulates icons on the Smart Board to show proper timeline placement of specific Native American groups.
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Above: Using the Smart Board to teach an interactive social studies lesson on the culture of the Paleo Indians. A student moves terms on the Smart Board during a word sort activity.
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More specifically, I have used technologies to...
- support whole class discussion or small group discussion by presenting a series of building questions on the Smart Board, as well as by incorporating educational videos (YouTube, BrainPOP) and picture slideshows that reinforce the concepts of the discussion.
- support literacy and comprehension skills by utilizing books on CD while students follow along.
- create interactive learning games using the Smart Board or PowerPoint software that allow students to assess their content knowledge.
- present items or step-by-step directions under the document camera.
- create interactive activities using the Smart Notebook software that allow students to manipulate objects on the Smart Board in order to practice content-specific vocabulary terms, geographical placement of states, placement of quotation marks, use of transitions when writing, identifying prepositional phrases, compare and contrast skills within a Venn diagram or chart, timeline building skills, checks and balances within the three branches, identify play elements from a selection, and more.
- facilitate student practice with spelling words by allowing students to use laptops during student-driven learning times.
Below you will find examples of PowerPoint and Smart Board activities I created for use within the classroom.
The following files have been saved as PDF to ensure access to all content.
The following files have been saved as PDF to ensure access to all content.
PowerPoint Files
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Smart Board Files
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