Using Computers in the Classroom
Brandi D. Hoffpauir
Lamar University
Action Research
April 18, 2013
Using Computers in the Classroom
Abstract
Using computers in the classroom is often debated by teachers. Some teachers believe that using computers in
the classroom is a distraction to students and a waste of time. Other teachers believe that using computers
in the classroom can benefit students both in the classroom and in their
futures.
Often times when a teacher feels that a computer is not valuable in
the classroom it is because they do not effectively know how to use the
computer to their benefit and the students benefit. This paper looks into the different ways of
using computers in the classroom. It
will give both new and experienced teachers information on how to use the
computers in their classrooms in an effective way.
Introduction
This study was done within the Goose Creek CISD
school system. It was done at ten
different elementary schools within the school district. This school system is located in Baytown,
Texas. In GCCISD 63% of the students are
eligible for the free or reduced lunch program
(CISD, 2010). This is above the
state average. This was in the year
2010. According to the GCCISD 2009-2012
E-Rate year 12 plan the district’s percentage of disadvantaged students is
60.10% (York, 2009).
This study was done through a student teaching
assignment, a substitute teaching job, and also through an internship with the
Goose Creek CISD technology department.
The work done during student teaching was done with third grade. The internship was completed in ten different
elementary schools. It was working with
fifth grade students.
Section One – Nature of the Problem
Statement of the problem
Often times teachers both new and also
experienced do not know how to use technology in their classrooms. They do not know how to use it to benefit
their students or even themselves. Many
times more experienced teachers do not know how to use a computer very
well. That makes it difficult for them
to use a computer in the classroom. New
teachers often do know how to use a computer, but they are unaware of how to
use it to benefit the children.
It is important for teachers to learn to use
technology in their classroom so their students will know how to use this
technology when they grow up and try to get a job. In today’s job market computers are very important. Many employers will not hire someone who
cannot use a computer. Because of this
it’s very important for schools and teachers to make sure students can use
computers. Schools need to encourage
students to use computers not discourage them.
Purpose of the Study
Many times computers are not used in the
elementary school classrooms because teachers do not know how to use them to
help teach their students in an effective way.
Teachers are unaware of the different software programs and websites available
for their use in the classroom. This
study will show different ways of using computers in both main stream
classrooms and special education classrooms.
Significance of the Study
This study can significantly help both new and
experienced teachers. It shows different
programs that can be used to help students.
It also shows different websites that can be used in the classroom. Many teachers do not know how to use
technology to benefit themselves but this paper will help teach them.
Definition of Terms
E-Rate Plan: A technology plan
that states goals and realistic strategies for using telecommunications to
improve education. This plan must be
completed in order for a school to get discounted services (Education, 2011).
Inclusion: Where a special
needs child remains in a regular classroom while still receiving the help they
need.
GCCISD: Goose Creek
Consolidated Independent School District
Section Two – Literature Review
According to the Goose Creek CISD E-Rate Plan
there is at least one computer for every four students (York, 2009). In the year
2011-2012 the district is supposed to be working toward 2:1 student computer
ratio. The district also has internet
available in every classroom (York, 2009). Currently GCCISD is trying to get a new bond
passed that will allow the district to invest in more technology for the
schools. This would include purchasing
laptops for the fourth grade students at all elementary schools. This bond will be voted on in May 2013.
Over the recent years many school districts
have begun to use computers in their classrooms. Some believe that this could be because
software has gotten cheaper. Others
believe that this is because it makes it more convenient for teachers because
of the large amount of content online. Also
the programmers are able to make multidimensional programs that include real
time interaction (Michael, 2001). Sometimes there are limitations that keep
technology from being used in the classroom.
One of those limitations is a teachers’ lack of technology skills and
knowledge of pedagogical methods and approaches
(Vrasidas & Kyriakou, 2008).
This is the reason this particular project was chosen.
Computers can be used in both
main stream and special education classrooms.
Some may think that they would not help special needs children, however
they can be beneficial. There is
computer software that is easy to use.
It can also be easily adjusted to the skill level each individual
student needs. These programs wait until
the student is ready and then if they do it wrong it guides them on how to fix
it (Kleinman & Humphrey, 1984). If
the students can use a computer to keep practicing then they will get more
practice than if the teacher has to help them.
Since a teacher cannot spend the entire class helping one student this
would benefit the child. The child who
needs extra help will get the help needed while the teacher continues working
with others in the class. Because of
this a computer can be a great tool for working with special needs children.
There was a study where a
child in pre-k who has cerbal palsey was allowed to use a computer. His computer has KidPix put on it. It was then adapted to allow him to use a
switch instead of a computer and keyboard.
The young man then was able to show that he could do things such as
count (Laufer, 2001). “Not only can
computer technology facilitate a broader range of educational activities to
meet a variety of needs for students with mild learning disorders, but adaptive
technology now exists than can enable even those students with severe
disabilities to become active learners in the classroom alongside their peers
who do not have disabilities
(Hasslebring & Glasher, 2000).”
Helping special needs students become active learners is important. We need to to learn if we want them to suceed
in life.
Many times children with
disabilities and even students who are behind in reading have a hard time
reading books. Because of this it is
often helpful to use computer programs or websites that will read books to children. Tumble Books is a website that is helpful to
students who have a hard time reading.
This website has books for the students to choose from. The students choose a book and this site will
read the book to them. It is also
animated. It makes it more interesting
for the children and it also helps them learn to read. Though this website would be great for
special needs children it can also be good for a general classroom too. All students would benefit from extra reading
time and if they have access to a website that has animated books they will be
more willing to read.
Computers can also benefit
students in subjects other than reading.
There are websites that can be used to help students in math. One website is coolmath.com. Most children like to play games. Games are fun and children like to do things
that are fun. That is why using a game
to teach them is a good idea. The
children will not feel like they are being forced to learn something in a
boring way. They will just learn as they
play games. This website is good for
teaching math, however there are websites that can help students with more than
one subject at a time.
There is a website that is
available that will help students with more than one subject. One such website is IStation or Imagination
Station. This site is a good site to
help students with subjects such as reading, spelling, and science. It is good because it works on all of the
differnet subjects and is fun for the students.
The students work on it individually and they progress
individually. This means that students
who learn quickly are not waiting on students who do not learn as fast. It makes it where each student is able to
pace themselves and learn. This website
is being used within GCCISD to help students review for the STAAR test. The students each log into their own account
and the program remembers where they are.
In order for them to progress from one level to another the students
must pass tests. If they do not pass
tests they are required to repeat the same activity again until they are able
to pass the test. Using computers can be
helpful to students, but computers can also be helpful to teachers.
Teachers can use computers in
their classrooms to help them. One way
teachers can use computers is by using programs such as Turn-It-In. This program is available to help teachers
determine if a student plagarized a paper or not. The teacher submits the paper to the program
and it will tell the teacher what percent of the paper matches other papers. Checking for plagarism is important, however
there are other ways a teacher can use technology in the classroom.
Another way teachers can use
technology in the classroom is through websites such as EduSmart. This website allows teachers to show
streaming videos to their students. Allowing
students to watch steaming videos can be very beneficial to them. It helps students with engagement. It helps the student become drawn into the
video and helps the visually connect with the content (Greenberg, 2012) . If a student is more engaged it will help
them to retain the information being conveyed to them. These videos are easily accessible to
teachers because they are on demand.
This makes it where a teacher can go online at any time and chose a
video to go with her lesson and immediately start watching it. Teachers can also use technology to help
parents stay updated on what is going on in the classroom.
Teachers can use blogs and
wikis to help parents and students stay up to date on what is going on in the
classroom. A teacher can make a class
blog or wiki and on it post what the students are currently learning about. The teacher can also post links to any
external sites they will be using in class.
This will help students especially if they are absent from school. The teacher can also post the class
assignments to the site. This allows
students and parents to see what work is due and when it is due.
Section Three – Action Research Design
Subjects
This research was conducted based on
elementary school students. The students
ranged from kindergarten through fifth grade.
These students went to ten different elementary schools within the Goose
Creek CISD school system. The study was
done in varying subjects.
Procedures
This research was done through both
observations and also teaching students throughout the school district. It was also done by talking to both the
teachers and the technology department.
The teachers were asked what they know how to do and what they do not
know how to do. They were also asked
what they feel like works in their classrooms and what does not work.
Data Collection
Data for this research project was gathered in
many ways. One way data was collected
was by talking to working teachers who currently use computers. These teachers were asked how they use
technology in their classroom. They were
also asked about the different programs and websites they use.
Data was also collected through observations
and through an internship with the GCCISD technology department. Classrooms and teachers were observed during
observations. Also technology lessons
were taught through an internship with the GCCISD technology department. Much of the internship time was spent working
with fifth grade students. However, time
was spent in all grade levels between kindergarten and fifth grade.
Section Four – Proposed Analysis of the Data
In order to determine if using computers in
the classroom is beneficial the teachers throughout the district will be
interviewed to see if they believe that their students have benefited from this
technology. The teachers will also be
asked if using computers in the classroom has been beneficial to themselves.
Section Five – Proposed Evaluation
Evaluating the Results of
the Study
In order to evaluate this project different
teachers from throughout the GCCISD were observed. Their classes were observed to see if the
students seemed to be learning from using computers. During the observations the students were
also watched to see if they seemed to be engaged in the process. The teachers were also spoken to in order to
see if they felt as if their students were benefiting from the use of computers
in their classroom. Teachers were asked
if their students seemed to like using the computer to help with their
classwork. They were also asked if their
students’ grades were improving while using the computers.
Based on this study computers can be very
helpful to both students and teachers when used in the classroom. Goose Creek CISD has people from the
technology department who go to the different schools and helps teach
technology. However, these people mainly
teach the students. It is this author’s
recommendation that GCCISD have someone come to each school and train the
teachers. The teachers need to know how
to use technology to their benefit and also their students benefit. The teachers need to be trained and not feel
threatened by the use of technology.
They also need to be taught about the benefits of using computers in the
classroom. If teachers understand the
benefits they will be more likely to use the technology available to them.
Dissemination of the
Results of the Study
This study can benefit both new teachers and
experienced teachers. All teachers can
learn from using technology in the classroom.
Teachers can use this information to help not just themselves but also
their students. This makes it very
important for this information to be available to teachers. Because this study can benefit many teachers
it will be published to the author’s personal Google site. It will also be published to the author’s
personal blog. Publishing this report to
a Google site and a blog will make it available to the largest amount of
teachers possible. It will make it
available not just to teachers across America, but to teachers across the
globe.
Appendix A
Leadership Plan
Specific actions I did
1) I made sure to be honest with everyone I worked
with. I made sure that everyone I worked
with knew I was being honest with them.
Being honest helped me get the most accurate results.
2) I made sure to let each person I worked with
know what my goal was. They each knew
that what they told me would be considered in my findings.
3) I spoke with different teachers to see which
websites they liked using the most.
4) I will make sure to communicate with everyone
that I work with on this project.
5) I will keep people motivated by pointing out
the good things that are being done.
6) There was a positive climate. This was done by making sure everyone knew
that their opinion was respected and was listed to.
7) Others were empowered. I did this by allowing the teachers to tell
me what they were working on in their class.
Then the technology lessons were planned to meet the teachers’ needs at
that time. I also asked the teachers if
there was anything particular they wanted me to do.
References
CISD, G. C. (2010, October). Demographic
Update . Retrieved from Goose Creek CISD:
http://www.gccisd.net/users/0046/docs/GCCISDDemoUpdateOct2010.pdf
Education, C. D. (2011,
December 29). E-rate: Technology Planning Guide. Retrieved September 16,
2012, from California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/ft/techplanning.asp
Greenberg, A. &. (March).
The Impact of Broadcast and Streaming Video in Education. Retrieved
April 18, 2013, from Cisco:
http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/docs/education/ciscovideowp.pdf
Hasslebring, T., & Glasher, C. (2000, Fall/Winter). Use
of Computer Technology to Help Students with Special Needs. The Future of
Children Children and Computer Technology, 10(2), 102-122. Retrieved
September 16, 2012, from FutureofChildren.org:
http://familiestogetherinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/COMPUTERTECHNEEDS.pdf
Kleinman, G., & Humphrey,
M. (1984, October). Computers make special education more effective and fun. Creative
Computing, 10(10), 96. Retrieved September 16, 2012
Laufer, D. (2001,
July/August). Computer Use in an Inclusive Setting for a Pre-School Child with
Cerebral Palsy. Directions Technology in Special Education, 7(11), 1-8.
Retrieved September 16, 2012, from
http://www.dreamms.org/page85/files/JulAug01.pdf
Michael, K. (2001). The
Effect of Computer Simulation Activity versus a Hands-On Activity on Product
Creativity in Technology Education. Journal of Technology Education, 13(1),
31-43. Retrieved September 16, 2012, from
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v13n1/pdf/micheal.pdf
Vrasidas, C., & Kyriakou,
E. (2008). Integrating Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved September
16, 2012, from Pliroforiki: www.pliroforiki.org/joomla/index.php?option
York, T. (2009, February 3). Goose
Creek CISD Technology Plan for E-Rate Year 12. Retrieved September 16,
2012, from Goose Creek CISD:
http://schools.gccisd.net/docs/38-Tech%20e-Plan%202009-2012.pdf
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