Online exercise 5

Think about your classroom. In your mind, where do you see the technology in that room? (Think of all the possible technologies—computers, LCD projectors, handhelds, laptop carts, and more.) How will you set up the classroom to support students in working both with technology and with each other? Ask yourself the following questions:

1) Will the kinds of technologies you have envisioned support all of your students regardless of their learning strengths and weaknesses?
2) Will these technologies support your students in working together?
3) Will students have enough access to technologies to meet their learning needs?
4) How will you know students are learning what you intend them to learn?
5) How will you identify their preferred learning style and differentiate instruction in the classroom for them?
6) If they are not learning what you intend, how will you address that?

Answers:
1) With me utilizing a projector and laptop with my classes, it will reach all students on a visual level and auditory level. They will see things such as internet images and YouTube clips to aid what I'm teaching.
2) If I had a "smart board", I could have the students work in pairs and come to the board to present to the class. If using i pod PDA's, I could have them take pictures of things for a digital scavenger hunt.
3) Some of my students have access to many different types of technologies at home and therefore are used to such things, but others, are not so lucky. I would have to use the technology as classwork as opposed to homework due to this.
4) Frequent questions and careful classroom monitoring during use of this technology.
5) Take a similar test found on the internet or elsewhere to determine learning styles of the students. Then, utilize each of the styles at least once during the lesson.
6) Modification, modification, modification. I would try alternating the groups if that seems to be a problem. If something else is the problem, I could try another method or simply re-teach then try again.