The incorporation of laptops into my lessons has
been a fun and exciting challenge. I have found that a majority of my students
are more comfortable learning when technology is used because they are simply
comfortable with technology. However, Hicks (2013) raises an interesting
perception on technology when quoting Sara Kadjer: “[S]tudents may be ‘tech
comfy,’ but they are not necessarily ‘tech savvy.’” This raises a new issue teachers
implementing technology must address when teaching. My students are extremely
comfortable using their laptops because they play on them so often at home.
However, I have to teach my students how to use the technology as an
educational tool. (There are even technology standards teachers must abide by, now.)
Some assume students will automatically know how to
proficiently use laptops because they use them at home. This is a false
assumption, though.
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| AL Technology Standards |
One of the biggest struggles my
students have when it comes to using their laptops for work is having to write
electronically, aka typing. Educators must remember that students do not come
to us with the ability to write; that is something they have to be taught.
Likewise, students have to be taught the proper way to type. “Clearly, we can
teach craft in writing. And we can teach cat in digital writing, too, even
though the struggles are perhaps more confounding” (Hicks, 2013). I make a
point to type in front of my students daily. They need to see the proper way to
sit in a chair and stroke the keys on the keyboard. I also provide ample
opportunities and resources to help my students learn the basics of typing.
Every Tuesday morning, they’re morning work is to practice typing. They log in
to my Padlet page and access any of the typing websites provided there. My favorite website is
Typing Tutor, because it shows them how to properly rest their hands on the
keyboard, and which fingers should be used to press each key.
In order for students to become digital writing composers, they must perfect the act of typing and keyboarding. Once a child has mastered the ability to type properly, the ease of composing and publishing digital pieces will be much simpler!
References:
[Huntsville AL Chamber]. (2013, May 20). Huntsville City Schools Digital 1:1
Curriculum. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/my0KnWhTDTQ
Hicks, T. (2013). Crafting
digital writing: Composing texts
across media and genres. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
I love the idea of a digital 1:1 curriculum, and am very interested in how you use the laptops in your lessons. Some of the schools in our district are piloting a BYOD program, and we are working to have this capability in other schools. Unfortunately, we are in a Title I school, so many of our students will not have this option. Also, with budget cuts, we have a limited number of devices available school-wide. Our county is working on the availability of technology in our area, and we are receiving more devices slowly, but surely.
ReplyDeleteYou mention typing being one of the main issues with digital writing. I completely agree with that assessment. It's not that they do not know how to use the laptops, but how to navigate and use the programs on the laptops. Typing would fall in line with navigating programs. Since we have younger students, I have discussed with my grade-level peers the possibility of having laminated copies of a key board in our classroom (we only have 3 student computers each and one lab). Once we teach them the home keys, students could use them to "type" spelling words during their word work centers. I cannot wait to share the "typing tutor" site you mentioned! We could also use that during our center time.
A digital curriculum with 1:1 technology is a wonderful resource for students! Even when BYOD is allowed within a school system, not all students have appropriate equipment to bring to school. Access to technology on a daily basis allows all students to grow and become tech savvy.
ReplyDeleteI love that you incorporate typing into morning work. Students need practice with basic skills. Now that standardized assessments are given on the computer, students need to feel comfortable taking tests and writing with technology. Students struggle writing with technology because they aren't comfortable typing and typically there is a lack of organization in their writing. Encouraging students to write digitally will help them enjoy using all available technology.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I love the way your students all have a laptop to work on during the day. When I was in high school we did have one class just for typing, but that was not enough in my opinion. If my students today had more technology, I think they would do better on a lot of the curriculum taught. Especially since that is what they are used to using at home. Technology is the future and our schools my get on board.
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