How
Can I Integrate the Computer Into the Curriculum?
Publishing Center
The biggest problem that students encounter when
trying to use the computer to publish work is their lack of keyboard experience
so be sure to include a keyboarding program in your software budget if
one is not included with your computer software package.Portable
keyboards, such as the Alpha Smart keyboards solve the problem of students
using all of their tech time trying to type their work.Students
type their stories into the portable keyboard and then download their files
to the computer during their tech time.
Another method for imputing stories into the computer
would be to let a parent volunteer do the first-draft word processing.Then
when the student has their tech time they can spell check, format, and
insert images where desired.Electronic
drawing boards also provide students an opportunity to illustrate their
own work.These costs around $100
and can be purchased with USB connection.
Students can then print out their work or publish
it on the Internet.The work can
also be saved on the student’s diskette.
Word Processing
Keyboards
The
AlphaSmart 2000 is a portable keyboard or notetaker that is compatible
with any Macintosh or PC. It enables students to practice keyboarding,
write and electronically store reports, essays and notes without having
to be at a computer. Its portability allows students to use it in the classroom,
at home or on field trips. The AlphaSmart has an optional industry standard
IR(infrared) interface that allows wireless transfer between the AlphaSmart
and a computer or printer.
The Alpha Smart currently costs $199 as listed in
Educational Resources catalog.
Welcome to
Our School
Start
the school year off with a project that introduces the faculty, staff,
and facilities in your school. The
finished project can be presented using PowerPoint. As
a group activity this project is suited to grades five and above, but can
also be used as a whole group activity for lower grades.
Planning Ask
groups to select a faculty member in the school for an interview and develop
questions for an interview. A
pair of students from each group can visit the faculty member to conduct
the interview. The interview
questions might include:
How
did you get interested in teaching (or being a principal)?
What do you
do in your job at school?
Where did you
go to school and what degrees do you hold?
Do you have
any hobbies?If so, what are they?
Do you have
children?If so, what are their ages?
What do you
like best about your job?
What do you
like least?
If a digital camera is available a picture of the
faculty member can be taken.
Seat WorkOnce
the questions have been answered, students compose an essay on their faculty
member.These should be edited an
be in a final form before going to the computer.
Tech Time During the group’s computer time
students can use Word to type the essay and insert the picture.If
a picture is not available a clipart image that represents the individual
can be used or a photo may be available at the school web site.This
process may take a few weeks and different pairs of students can take turns
typing the essay.These essays can
be printed and used for displays or compiled into booklets for visitors
to enjoy.An alternative method
might be to create a PowerPoint presentation on the staff member.If
students create PowerPoint presentations limit the presentations to a number
of slides that can be managed in the time allotted for the project.Teach
students to always start every presentation with a title card that also
credits the creators of the presentation.
Classroom
Newspaper
During the
Buzz
Time visit an online news site (
http://www.cnn.com)
and allow students to select one story.
Discuss
the story and download a picture to be used in the newspaper at the end
of the day.
There are also numerous
student news sites on the web.
A
listing can be found at the county web site (
http://208.183.128.3/kidsnews.html).
Another
great opening activity would be to visit the History Channel’s This Day
in History Site (http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/index.html).
During the last 15 minutes ask students to relate
the story for the newspaper.
Also
include articles concerning classroom activities which took place during
the day and school events.
This could
be an excellent time to review new terms and concepts.
Keep
the newspaper at one column, which is manageable in the time allotted.
Print
two copies of the story and put one copy in a folder marked “Please return
to school tomorrow.”
Send this folder
home with a different child each night in order to keep parents up to date
on what is going on in the classroom.
When
the student returns the folder, remove the story and put it in a notebook
collection of newspapers kept in the room for students to enjoy during
silent reading time.
Put the other
copy of the newspaper in a notebook to be kept in the office for waiting
visitors to read.
You can also post
your classroom newspaper on the web.
Directions
for doing so can be found at the county web site (
http://208.183.128.3/tutorials/news/).
Electronic
Portfolios
Creating
student electronic portfolios does not require purchasing an additional
piece of software. Wonderful
portfolios can be created using Microsoft PowerPoint. The
portfolio can show how a student has progressed from the beginning of the
year to the end of the year. During
each grading period provide students a tech time to add a slide to their
portfolio. Each slide to share
the following information in paragraph form:
-
A sentence describing what the student feels he has done best this grading
period.
-
A sentence describing what the student feels he has had the most problem
with this grading period.
-
A list of things the student has learned this grading period for each subject
and any exciting activities or projects in which the student has participated
-
A sample of the students handwriting (These can be created in PowerPoint
using the the AutoShapes, Line, Scribble tool, Paint or a writing paper
can be scanned or a digital camera can be used to photograph a writing
paper
-
A digital or scanned current photo of the student or a baby picture on
one slide might be fun (If these are not available, allow students an opportunity
to insert clipart that represents them. PowerPoint
also provides a movie feature. Older
students can be taught to create .avi videos of themselves if they have
access to a computer cam and insert these videos into a slide.
Sample
of an electronic portfolio slide for the first six weeks of school for
a fourth grader
The PowerPoint file should be saved in the student’s
folder on the hard drive. Each grading period the student opens this file
in PowerPoint and adds another slide.Stress
to students that they are adding to their existing portfolio file and not
creating a new presentation each grading period.At
the end of the year the student will have an electronic portfolio, which
can then be transferred to diskette (if space is permissible) and given
to the student to keep.If this is
not possible, print out a hard copy of the presentation.These
may also be used as attractive bulletin board displays.
Individual Language Arts Computer
Activities
Type
the Letters
Provide a template of the alphabet in capital letters.Students
match the capital letters on the keyboard with the capital letters on the
template and type each letter in alphabetical order.
Note:Choose
a font style for the template that resembles the font style on the keyboard.
First
Word Practice
Give students a list of basic words to type into
the computer.This activity gives
students practice in letter recognition and spelling and reading.After
students print out their list ask them to read words to a friend or illustrate
words.
Write
a Story
Students write a simple story and type into the
computer.If students are ready show
them how to use the spell check tool.Stories
can be printed and illustrated and compiled in a book.
Type
Your Name
Students can practice spelling and writing their
names on the computer.Teach students
ot use the shift key for capital letters.
Alphabetize
Words
Give students a list of words to type in alphabetical
order.Use spelling words or reading
vocabulary words.
What
If?
Present a situation (What would happen if….) for
the students to finish in a story.
Examples:What
would happen if you woke up and were suddenly an adult?What
would happen if you were the teacher (or principal) for a day?What
would happen if you woke up and had duck feet?Some
students might enjoy creating their own situations.
What’s
the Word?
Give students a series of picture cards and have
them type words for the pictures into the computer.
Long
and Short Vowels
Students can practice their formatting skills by
typing a series of words and using the underline or italics tool button
to identify long or short vowels.
Parts
of Speech
Provide a group of sentences and ask students to
format or color a specific part of speech, such as make all nouns red or
make proper nouns purple and common nouns blue.This
is also a good following directions activity.
What
Rhymes?
Give students a list of words and ask them to retype
the words and also type a rhyming word.
Contractions
Provide a list of contractions and ask students
to type the two words that make up each or give students the two words
and ask them to type the contractions.
Writing
Your Way
Ask students to write a new chapter for a book or
story you are reading together.Students
could also create a new ending to the story.
Be
A Friend
Have students write friendly letters using the friendly
letter format (heading, greeting, body, closing, signature).Students
could write to their parents, former teachers, friends, etc.Post
a sample of a friendly letter to follow.This
activity could be incorporated in an email activity.Students
could review the friendly letter format by creating a friendly letter to
another classroom in the county that has Internet and email access.The
teacher could then copy and paste the letter in an email to send to the
class.
Abbreviation
Practice
Give students a
list of abbreviations and ask them to type in the word for each abbreviation.Some
examples are:St.Sat.yr.min.Dr.Sun.yd.gal.in.hr.ft.Tues.Rd.P.O.Fri.cm.lb.Mon.Thurs.Wed.Mr.
Illustration
Exchange
Students draw or paint a picture, which they exchange
with another student.The second
student then writes a story based on the picture.A
variation of this activity would be for the student to give provide copies
of the pictures to several students who each create different stories which
can be compared as to point of view and individual perception.
The
Never Ending Story
Begin a story document on the computer as a class
activity.Afterwards each student
adds the next section of the adventure.Then
other students take turn adding to the story to create a class chapter
book.
Theme
Words
Give students a theme and ask them to type as many
words as they can think of related to that them.These
lists can be used to develop a class vocabulary list.
Dictated
Stories
Allow kindergarten students to dictate stories to
a parent volunteer or an older student.Print
the stories and allow student to illustrate and read them to the class
(if possible).
Writing
About Me
Ask students to write about themselves and type
the information in to the computer.When
they have completed their autobiographies, share them with the class.Some
starter ideas might be:
-
My family consists of…
-
What I like to do most is…
-
When I am older…
-
What really makes me happy?
If
I Were to Change
Language
Arts Online Activities