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Software in the Classroom
The various ways in which teachers have adapted computers to their instructional goals are as different as the teachers themselves. With the rapid growth in numbers of students who speak English as a second language and with varying degrees of fluency, remedial reading software has become a favorite with teachers at all levels. Teachers at Stovall Middle School in Aldine, Texas, like software that allows students to practice, includes lessons, and carries out assessment. The success of this kind of software is proven by the pass rate of these newly arrived Americans on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in reading. Instruction using the software is supplemental to regular in-class time teaching. Margaret Byrd (2001) began her article in Media & Methods by telling,
"A 13-year old girl has just passed the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test at her grade level. So why is this so remarkable? This young lady has only been in the United States for three years having moved from Mexico. She started working on a computerized reading remedial and assessment program last year. By spending extra time in her school's computer lab, and with the guidance of a reading teacher, she gained a remarkable four years in reading ability."
Sammy's Science House, a multimedia primary grades CD-ROM, gets Carol DeLancy's vote for one of the best programs for stimulating interest in science for her kindergarten class. In "Report From the Pond" she related how "my kindergarten students got to turn our classroom into a miniature simulation of a pond life habitat" (2001). Describing the software, Ms. DeLancy said, "This primary CD-ROM program, allowed the students to explore and interact with pondlife during all the seasons." Another software program, she discovered to be just right for the children was Web Workshop by Sunburst. They used this software to create their own web pages for "A Report From the Pond." Ms. DeLancy concluded that the project worked well for the socioeconomically, culturally, and linguistically diverse student population she teaches. The software made it possible for her to fulfill "the need for introducing students to inquiry investigative-based science at an 'early' age."
Mario, a behavior problem student in the sixth grade, whose unacceptable attitude and actions had been attributed to his having English as a second language and coming from a home where it was seldom spoken. The tables turned, however, when he was introduced to a Start-to-Finish book. These books include "a talking CD-ROM version of the book, a matching text version, and an audio cassette." When given the opportunity to load the CD-ROM onto the computer, Mario underwent a transformation. After seeing his absorption, Mr. Jameson, his teacher, wrote to the principal and the lab instructor, "He was completely mesmerized by the whole thing and spent over an hour working non-stop without, I am sure, realizing what he was doing. He took quizzes and did extremely well. He was really proud of himself, and he learned a lot with minimal teacher input."
Activity
Research lesson plans that share ideas for teachers using software in their classrooms. Select one commonly used software package and find five different uses for it. Summarize these uses to share with your peers.
Want to know more? Check out these sites:
Want to know more?
Check out these sites:
Sources:
Byrd, M. 2001.
Technology helps. Media & Methods,
37 (3), 12.
DeLancy, C. 2001. Report from the pond. Retrieved March 15, 2003, from www.teachnet-lab.org/miami/2001/delancyc.htm
Haugen, K. 2003. Success
stories – middle: Building reading success.
Retrieved June 18, 2003, from www.ataccess.org/resources/atk12/ss/m_reading.html
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