The One Computer Classroom
Prepared and compiled by Janine Lim, Instructional Technology Consultant for MACUL '98
updated 8/22/00

• Technology Curriculum Integration Ideas!

Classroom Discussions

You can use almost any educational software or Internet sites from the front of the classroom to guide and direct student learning and to inspire discussion. It helps to create roles for the groups so each person has a perspective to help guide the discussion.

• Amazon Trail from MECC at http://www.mecc.com $14.95, $29.99 for Amazon Trail II
• Amazon Interactive at http://www.eduweb.com/ecotourism/eco1.html
  • Web Adventures from http://www.eduweb.com/adventure.html

Offline Browsers

Offline browsers can take sites down to your harddrive or floppy disk and be viewed when not connected to the Internet. There are several benefits to using an offline browser.

• limit student misbehavior on the Net
• provide "Internet access" where unavailable
• guarantee site availability at the time you need it
• provide faster loading of pages and graphics

WebWhacker is the one I'm using. You can buy it directly from the company that makes it: http://www.bluesquirrel.com/whacker/ for $49.95. Or you can buy it from Classroom Connect for $49.95 and also receive a book with helps and teacher stories, plus other web software free. Call (800) 638-1639 or visit http://www.classroom.net/

• Internet Projects can be done with one Internet connection in the school. Even teachers with an Internet connection at home only could do many of these projects. My list of project pages: http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/restch.htm
• Decisions, Decisions series and the Choices, Choices series from Tom Snyder Productions at http://www.teachtsp.com or (800) 342-0236.

Cooperative Learning

• Thematic unit stations: Here's a brief sample lesson using ideas from the Chocolate theme book from Teacher Created Materials http://www.teachercreated.com/ or 1-888-343-4335. This lesson structure was adapted from an idea from Kathleen Johnson and TIES of Minnesota.

Divide students into 5 groups based on the goals of the topic and create at least 5 stations or tasks. These could be projects, worksheets, hands-on activities, reading, and more. If you have one computer, one of the activities will be on the computer. If you have more, change the activities to match your situation.

• Group 1 reads books on Chocolate such as Chocolate by Hershey by Betty Burford, or Chocolate Dreams by Arnold Adoff and writes chocolate poetry (cinquains, similies, equations, 5 senses poems, and other kinds) and the ultimate edible paragraph (a wonderful paragraph writing activity from TCM's book listed above. (These could be wordprocessed on the computer.)
• Group 2 tests various hot chocolate drinks for dissolving ability and taste. Data should graphed and the results written up in a lab report.
• Group 3 reads about the science of chocolate and uses the information to do a chocolate crossword puzzle.
• Group 4 takes class survey information (the survey would have to be done as a class before breaking into groups) and creates bar graphs on favorite chocolate bars and other questions answered by the class. This could be done with Graph Club from Tom Snyder Productions at http://www.teachtsp.com or (800) 342-0236 or any spreadsheet software. The class would need previous instruction on how to use the software.
• Group 5 researches a country where cocao trees grow and prepares a travel brochure advertising the country. (This could be done on the computer too).

Another group could look at previously bookmarked Internet sites to find information about chocolate. Another group could read print-based info and create a graphic organizer that has a focusing question.

The teacher floats from group to group as facilitator. Groups can remain stationary for a set amount of time, or could move to the next group each day until all tasks are completed. Not all groups would do all 5 tasks but all groups would have had technology use as least one day.

For middle and high school teachers, this can be hard to do with a 40-50 minute period. You could have students visit one or two stations a day and stretch the learning activity over 3-5 days. With block scheduling, this kind of idea can give you ways to use the 80+ minute period. You could have a station where student read a short article and discuss questions; at another have them write a news article or other short writing assignment applying the information; at another have the students do a hands-on activity working with a concept; at another have them do a chapter review. These are just a few ideas.

• HyperStudio is a multimedia package that allows students to create reports, stories, poems, and more with sound, graphics, text, and more. For more information, visit http://www.hyperstudio.com or call (800) 421-6526. When creating a project, have students work in teams of 4 or less. Use roles such as Project Leader, Primary Designer, Interface Developer, Media Specialist and more. Be sure to have each person doing content research and the group must agree on each step. This can make it much easier to have students sharing one computer.
• Internet Projects can also be done by kids working in teams. When I taught, I had my 5th and 6th grade students team up with the Kindergarten students to draw a picture and write a sentence about it. Simple paint programs such as Windows Paint or KidPix can be used for this. I emailed the files to a teacher in California who posted them on this web page: http://itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/projects/patten/arah13.html (this is the first student's page).
• Neighborhood Map Machine from Tom Snyder Productions at http://www.teachtsp.com or (800) 342-0236 and other such software can also be used with teams. This software allows students to explore map skills and create maps of communities. You can also print buildings and place them on large maps (6x6).

"Smart Chalkboard"

• Inspiration from Inspiration at http://www.inspiration.com or (800) 877-4292 can be used to brainstorm a story, essay, or topic with students. You can then easily make it into an outline, or print the web/graphic organizer for students to write from or to guide their study.
• Slide shows can be created in ClarisWorks, KidPix, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Persuasion, or Corel Presentations. These can be student created to supplement reports, or lecture supplements for you as teacher. Slide shows with student work or important information can also be automated and running at parent teacher conferences or open house.

Quick ClarisWorks instructions: Create a wordprocessing document with each page as a slide. Make sure the font is very large such as 72 point. Use Format, Insert Break to jump to the next page. When you're finished writing, choose View, Slide Show. Check the boxes marked Fade, Loop, and Advance Every. Choose colors for Border and Background. Click Start. Press ESC to get out of the slide show and back to ClarisWorks.

• Use educational software to take students on virtual field trips. Software such as the Macmillan Dictionary or other informational software can be used from the front of the classroom. Macmillan Dictionary has some spelling games like hangman that can be used with 2 teams in the classroom. It also allows you to choose the spelling words for the week and play the game with weekly spelling words. Macmillan Dictionary is bundled with the Apple Elementary Reference Bundle from Apple at http://www.apple.com/education/ or 800-800-2775.
• Wacky Web Tales is another software package/Internet site that can be used from the front of the classroom to give practice with parts of speech. Created by Houghton Mifflin at http://www.eduplace.com/tales/ or 1-800-733-2828 and available for $15 for one computer or $35 for your whole building.
• Visit Web sites each day/week as listed below. All of these sites are listed under their respective subject areas at http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/

Social Studies ideas: Visit MapQuest, study a country per week and use Altapedia, visit a daily news site such as CNN, do the geography quiz weekly, learn about country times and public holidays with the Interactive World Atlas

Language Arts ideas: Visit A.Word.A.Day, visit the American Literature Library and read a chapter a day with other schools, visit an author's page per week (Children and Young Adult Authors)

Math ideas: Do the AIMS puzzle of the month or other activities, learn about a different Women Mathematicians each week, read a Mathematical Quote, see the Problem of the Week from the Math Forum Student Center, try out a Brain Teaser from Houghton Mifflin's Mathematics Center

Science ideas: NASA sites to view recent information-NASA has an Astronomy picture of the day, see weather information from CNN or other news stations, track a goose daily from the Wild Wings site

Teacher Tool

• Letters and notes to parents can be easily personalized and written in any wordprocessing program. If you find yourself writing the same types of notes often, make a little form note and copy enough to last for a while. You can also use the mail merge feature in your favorite wordprocessor to send form letters to all your parents. Mail merges take a listing of addresses and names and put them into the letter so each letter is addressed personally.
• Sending home grade printouts periodically is a great way to keep parents up-to-date on what you're doing in class. There are many different grade programs available which calculate grades and print grade summaries. Some are shareware (minimal prices) and you can download them from http://www.shareware.com Many districts have a grade program that they support. Check with your district people before buying your own program.
• Having a web page for your school and classroom is one of the neatest ways to share classroom information with parents and community people. Also, students work harder when they know their work will be published for the world to see!
• Use email to communicate with other educators to improve your teaching and get new ideas. Join an educational listserv (an email discussion group). You can find them at http://edweb.gsn.org/lists.html or http://www.liszt.com/ (the mailing list directory). Before you join a list, you may want to learn about Netiquette at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
• Use the Internet to glean information for yourself. Read magazines listed at http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/ref.htm Get lesson plans from sites listed here: http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/restch.htm#lessons Get classroom reader's theater plays from http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/RTE.html and other such information to print and use in your classroom.

Classroom Management Tips

• Have students plan their use of the computer before they get on it. For example, they should plan searches (write down key words, etc.) before getting on the Net.
• Use the one computer as a station with pairs/groups of kids. This works well if you are doing projects or problem-based learning. Students work on the project, and the computer is one of many activities to solve the problem or do the project.
• Use the computer for whole class demonstration or as a lecture supplement. Tom Snyder software is created for this plan. Net sites can be used this way as well. You'll need a projection device such as an LCD panel for this. If you have a parents' group, explain to them the purpose of the LCD panel and they may help raise the money for it.
• Put the computer on a cart and share with the teacher next door. This works well if you are team teaching. Be sure you have time to talk and schedule the computers.
• Have students plan their use of the computer before they get on it. For example, have them storyboard, write, or draw their project before putting it on the computer.
• Think about how you schedule time on the computers. Remember equal opportunity. If you let the students who finish work first go to the computer, the students who are kinesthetic learners and need to be on the computer don't get the chance.
• This site also has many other ideas that can be adapted for PC classrooms as well: The 1 or 2 MAC classroom http://members.macconnect.com/users/d/danhrkman/macclass/macclass.spml Some of the ideas are summarized below.
  • Put a timer and a student roster next to the computer. Teach the students how to set the timer for 15 minutes and to tap the next person on the shoulder when they are done.
  • Have a student who serves as "Computer Assistant." If students have a question, they are to go to the Computer Assistant for help. If the Assistant doesn't know, then they can ask the teacher.
  • Have a class schedule posted where students rotate at 15 minute shifts all day, even during direct instruction. This schedule is at different times during the week, so students don't miss the same class instruction each day (Student A starts Monday at 8:15, Tuesday at 10:00, Wednesday at 12:30, Thursday at 1:45, and Friday at 3:00). Since they are in the classroom while working on their assignments, they still hear all the necessary instruction.
  • Demo new software or projects using some sort of projection system.
  • Design projects to be completed in small parts, so that directions do not become too complex. Have instructions clearly spelled out and in small chunks.
  • Create templates for projects so that independent work can occur.
  • Use peer teaching. Each week have a different student in charge of the computer. They should have learned whatever program is used that week.
  • Most kids are so fascinated with technology that they'll teach themselves just about anything you can load on them, as well as work peacefully together for fear of losing computer time. A small team of kids can have a corresponding team that works with them, with each team sharing with the other what they learned while the other was otherwise occupied either at the computer or with conventional classwork.

A Final Note: These a just a few of the many ways that you can effectively use the resources you have in your classrooms. Start with a few ideas, get them working well, and then you'll think of many other ways you can effectively use the computer in your classroom.

Use the Internet in ways described on this page