jigsaw

How could you use the jigsaw method in your classroom if you only had 5 computers?

Each "expert group" would take turns researching their specific topic. By having the "experts" work together, it allows them to

share their findings with others, leading them to sites with the most useful information. it also allows the group if there are specific

patters in their research, allowing them to make connections that might not have been made on their own.

What could be an advantage of this method?

It has been proven extremely effective. By having each student in the home group responsible for being an expert, the others must listen and take notes in order to do well on the assignment or test.

What could be a disadvantage?

Students who like to be the center of attention can take over every discussion. From experience, i was involved in a jigsaw project in a college course, and i had a member of my group control the entire thing. My fellow group members and i began to tune him out because we knew he wasn't the "expert" on every topic, thus, our group didn't do very well on the exam that followed.

Google For Educators

Name three Classroom Tools you might want to use with students . How do you think you would use these tools?

• "SketchUp in the classroom". It allows students to create anything in 3D. Because i'm not great at math, i believe this tool would be useful by introducing measurements, ratio and scale in a way that students can connect to. I would use it to increase awareness about how math is used in everyday life, thus creating a sense of its importance.
• "Google Groups". It allows students to essentially have an online study group, to which they can help their classmates with questions they have about specific content. This would allow for in depth discussions that can stimulate questions not raised by the teacher. For the elementary level, i would use this with not only the students, but their parents as well, in order to give the parents a chance to help their stimulate their brains away from the classroom.
• "Blogger in the Classroom". It allows students to create blogs that share their ideas. I would use this site for daily writings, responses to reading, etc., instead of using massive amounts of paper that i will inevitably end up losing.

Name one advantage of using Google Docs with students.

It is easily accessible from any computer, easy to print, and easy to use.

"Reflections of Assistive Technologies"

Describe how AT tools serve to bridge the gaps in ability and (can) eventually be phased out as the build the skills (as demonstrated in Josh's story).

After watching the clip about Josh and the adversities he has had to overcome at the young age of six, it is amazing how technology has forever changed the life of a little boy who, at one point, didn't communicate with anyone.

Standing on his tip toes, throwing tantrums and being non verbal were just a few of the adversities that Josh's teacher had to overcome. She needed find solutions to get him to meet state standards. Knowing she couldn't rely on just her teaching methods, she turned to the "supertalker" in order to break the communication barrier. It allows Josh to not only communicate his needs and wants, but gain self confidence and gradually begin to communicate verbally with his teacher and classmates.

The time from when Josh began using the smart reader, to the time he began to speak and rely less on the audio that accompanies the technology, was only a few days. How amazing is it that we have come so far and can now use these devices to assist teachers in educating students who were, at one point in history, not able to learn in a normal classroom.

Gradually, Josh began to rely less on the audio, and more on his knowledge of the subject until he eventually stopped using it all together. He now reads books to both his teacher, and his classmates, something he wouldn't have been able to do without the smart reader.

"Classrooms of the Future"

After watching the three short clips of students in what i presume was an '80's classroom, i am somewhat confused and amazed as to how accurate some of the technology is. First, the teacher presents the presentation information on what i would refer to as a first genration smart board. The classroom is equipped with a camera that can reach students who are unable to physically be in class (like the track star who was out with an injury).

Working together, the students communicated through video and shared ways to access information not readily available to them. We now use this sort of technology everyday in order to communicate with those who are far away. They also used databases at different universities to get a wier variety of informaton in order to make their research more vaild. Now, it is highly reccomended to use these databases in order to get the most accurate information possible.

The only real problem i had with the videos was the lack of innovation in regards to the computers and other technologies. The wireless keyboard and the voice activted program were the only "futuristic" pieces that looked "futuristic". The computer/ video screen looked exactly like one you'd find in the '80's, except smaller (which is technically "futuristic", the smaller the better).