COMPUTER AS TEACHER TOOLS

COMPUTER AS TEACHER TOOLS
Function of computer for teachers :

• Keep records, manipulate information, produce individual letters to parents.
• Produce a class newsletter.
• Create customized follow-up work for lessons.
• Make personalized certificates of achievement.
• Create customized graphic organizers and direction sheets.
• Create charts, student lists and name tags.
• Communicate with other professionals and subject experts via email.

COMPUTER AS MULTI-MEDIA CHALK BOARD

• Reading groups: draw story webs, have the computer read vocabulary words
• Demonstrate concepts: for example, add descriptive words to a sentence or rearrange the sequence of words in a sentence to change the meaning.
• Record information from a group brainstorming session that introduces a new unit.
• Demonstrate writing or editing skills.
• Demonstrate Math concepts (ClarisWorks) (Graph Club)
• Color text for exploring, or critically evaluating written material
• Color text for demonstrating patterns and devices in poetry (check out poetry sites in Global Shared folder: !Web sites)
• Spreadsheet for graphing simple survey information
• Live access to a selected Internet site to enhance discussion orillustrate a point.
• Live access to a selected Internet site to retrieve authentic data

COMPUTER AS LEARNING CENTER

• guess the word (copy, speak and change to picture) (KidWorks 2)
• Tanagrams
• Use an atlas or encyclopedia: find some type of information such a six rivers in Africa or Go to CIA World Fact Book with a Scavenger hunt worksheet.
• Use one component of some commercial software that goes along with your curriculum topic (Use a worksheet to direct student use.)
• Calculator in math to check work
• Spell checker during writing times
• Thesaurus during writing times (Writing Center) (ClarisWorks)
• Rhyming dictionary during poetry writing (see poetry sites in Global Shared folder: !Web sites)
• alphabetize a list
• Database of characters in literature books (can be entered by individuals or small groups): list traits and then use the database to compare two different characters from different books. Have students write a paper describing which one they would like to have for a friend and why.

COMPUTER AS COOPERATIVE LEARNING TOOL

• group story (setting, characters, plot, ending)
• enlarge, double space and print written work to be edited by a partner
• Sequence, compare or categorize lists (Use authentic data from the Internet)
• poll the class on a topic and make a graph and compare results