How to Integrate Technology into Middle School Lesson Plans
According to a survey conducted by Pew Internet, seventh grade is when Internet usage increases significantly for students in their social lives. Since teenagers are already using advanced technology for social interaction through social networking sites, instant messaging, email, chat rooms and online gaming, it makes sense to incorporate technology into the classroom to harness and advance the students' learning capabilities while also increasing the fun and interactive qualities of the classroom.
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Things You'll Need
- Blackboard software package
- computer projector
- computer audio speakers
- computer video capabilities
Instructions
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Ask the principal to purchase and implement Blackboard software and overhead projectors into the classroom so the teacher's computer can be projected and be seen by all students. Blackboard software is used in many educational institutions and is very user friendly. It has many applications which are appropriate for the middle school classroom: online discussion forums, homework assignments, grades posted immediately for students and parents to view, a private forum for parents to discuss children's schoolwork and the ability for students to view Powerpoint presentations.
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Discuss and deepen knowledge of textbooks through online discussion forums. Create incentives to increase online chatting about homework assignments. For example, tell the students that when they finish reading the textbook chapter for homework, if they participate in the online discussion group they will receive extra credit. It is important as a teacher to give feedback on the discussion groups using a three-tiered approach of encouragement, challenging, and asking for more information. These three prompts can deepen the students' critical thinking and comprehension skill sets.
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Post homework assignments online. Use this platform to clearly define the goals and expectations of the homework. One of the benefits of online homework assignments is that the expectations and grading system can be clearly defined in writing. This process empowers the students to succeed.
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Grading practices become transparent when using the Gradebook feature of Blackboard. This allows the teacher to post corrected work and grades immediately online. Parents and students can easily access this application. The transparency of this process ensures more accountability from the teacher and less room for favoritism to occur. Also, Gradebook has a private email feature which enables parents easy access to discuss their students' grades. It also simplifies the parents' process when they can find their child's grades and email the teacher from the same web page. The ease of Gradebook will hopefully increase parental participation, and when students' parents are involved they often do better.
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Incorporate PowerPoint slide show presentations into the classroom. Using the computer and overhead projector, navigate the slide show with oral narration. When teachers are at home writing lesson plans and creating PowerPoint presentations, they should incorporate these key points from Doyle and Giangreco: Use high-quality images, minimize written text, stick to the big ideas, limit the number of slides to key points, include brief audio and video clips when appropriate, do not overuse animation features and use contrasting colors carefully. One of the advantages of using PowerPoint presentations is that they can easily be transformed into game formats such as Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit or Bingo. Combining slide show presentations with games can really enhance fun and camaraderie in the middle school classroom.
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Tips & Warnings
When the school system decides to upgrade technology into the classroom, ask for guided computer training sessions for the teachers. Many teachers are already overloaded with work and hesitant to learn a new system. Easing this transition will ensure success for both the teachers and the students.
Plan at least one class period to train students on the new software. Put privacy settings into place immediately so students cannot see each other's grades and cannot hack into Gradebook and change grades or view private parent/teacher email correspondence.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit girl with laptop image by NiDerLander from Fotolia.com
