Ways to Use Computers in Schools - Update

 I have been working with the technology department on the fifth grade laptop initiative.  I have been going from school to school and watching how the laptops are being used within the school.  I have found several ways to use them including letting students who are not very good readers use programs that read books to them.  There are programs that highlight the words while it says the words.  This helps the students learn the words.  I have also found that teachers are able to upload assignments to Edmondo.  The students can do the assignment and upload it to Edmondo.  Then the program grades it for the teacher.  I have also found that there are websites that are there to help students who are having problems in subjects such as math.  The teacher can have the students log into the websites and do extra work.  The students have fun doing this.  They are also learning how to do the activites.  Once they learned how to do it they are getting extra practice and getting better at it.  Once they have gotten good at it then the teacher can allow them to move onto something else.  This works well even for students who are behind.  It allows them to master a skill that another student is not working on.  I have spent approximately one hundred and twenty hours on this project.  I even spent a day working with a different technology person.  I went to a school with her and worked with her on the second trade typing initiative.  In this class they are using computers to teach the second graders how to type.  They are using a computer program that is like a game.  I have also used this program with some of the students that I have taught while subbing.  The kids love doing this and have fun.  However, they are also learning a valuable skill.