TEXASTECHNOLOGY.COM

Computer technology can be really helpful in the classroom. Chances are, your kids are already far more familiar with use of the computer than you are. So, my advice is to approach the computer lab with the same care you’d use for any classroom tool.

Tip One: Have a plan. You wouldn’t dream of handing out blank sheets of paper and pencils without a clear idea of what you expect the students to do with them. Don’t expect a computer to teach without your involvement.

Tip Two: Have clear outcomes in mind. You’ve decided on what you want your students to do; now decide what you want them to accomplish. Computers are excellent for non-subjective analysis of student work, so you have a golden opportunity to use them for subjects with finite results.

Tip Three: Deal with the computer’s impact on subject matter. Don’t hide from what technology has done, even if it impacts your curricula. All computers now have spell check, for example. So why would any student want to learn spelling? There’s an answer to this, simple homonyms account for the largest number of computer errors spell check won’t catch.

Most of your students will have access to a computer outside of the classroom. This gives you the opportunity to help them recognize the value of the machine as more than a social network.