Oh the changes…article was really interesting! After reading the students comments, I could sense their confidence level rising! Though the comment on page 4 under editor and designers, the students comment was that the computer made his “handwriting look neat”. I don’t think using a computer can strengthen that skill, but everything else from vocabulary words to math problems seems to be strengthening.
I also want to comment on a past experience with computers in the classroom, while I was in the third maybe fourth grade we got 3 computers in the class and we could “buddy up” and do vocabulary exercises. I remember that it was not as tough (to do the problems because I was the shy kid) to do vs going up to the white board in front of the whole class. So I really think that all kinds of students can benefit from the intimate learning atmosphere provided by working with computers, shy students, struggling students and the class clowns who need to be isolated.
3 comments:
I definitely agree on using a computer to create a "safer" learning environment. Growing up I was always the shy kid as well. Sometimes I wonder if my teachers thought I never knew the answers or was not as smart as I actually was because I would never raise my hand or contribute to the dicsussions. In using computers this also helps control class clowns. While a group discussion can easily be interupted by a single comment when working on computers in a buddy system this can eliminate the majority of negative effects a class clown can have on an entire class.
Hello Leah, i also agree with you in the sense that due to the advanced in technolgy most students do not perform their papers through writing, instead they type them. This leads to a decreased in students' ability to have nice handwriting. At the same time, by working in a computer those of us who are shy have the ability to do our work more effectively since we are not in front of a blackboard.
You have hit on a good point with technology in the classroom when you applied to the psychological effects it can have as well. Many students find it difficult to put themselves out there for persecution when they have to approach the chalkboard. If technology can assist them with this, than it is just one more way it can be useful in the classroom.
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