STaRT Tech Learning Community

For my project at Aberdeen, I going to try and increase the level of my students writing by using The Writing Room and technology in general. Because this is grade six and seven, I am also requiring that they type up their essays, provide proper formatting and referencing. This has proven a bigger task than originally anticipated because my students cover the spectrum of ability levels. My students are very comfortable with the basic uses of the computer, where the games are, and the tricks to change their settings. However, I have found that students are not trained in how to use the computer as a tool to independently complete task. The only use as a tool is for teachers through STAR reader or Success Maker. Thus, my first assumption has been proven false - student familiarity with the computer does not generalize across all applications.

I have decided to start from the beginning and immerse my students in many different application experiences on the computer. Gary has come in once a week, for many weeks (Thank-you Gary!), to support me in this and show the students a new application each week to generate an excitement about using various applications and so that students have a solid knowledge of the applications available. Next, I plan to create a bank of computers in my class to serve several purposes. The first purpose is simply so that students have constant access to the computers. Ideally, using computers to complete tasks becomes part of the classroom environment. Next, I have found that my student’s ability levels sit at two polar opposites, splitting the class evenly. For most projects, half of the students will be finished and the other half will be struggling with their work. In a recent example, I took students to the computer lab four - five times to complete a project, when half the class had finished in two sessions. This means that projects such as The Writing Room or in-class projects are difficult because I have to take the entire class to the computer lab and half my class will have completed the project, while the other half requires much support. I am working towards peer helpers, but this class has much history and at this point, peer helpers must be selected very carefully.

Six in-class computers will allow struggling students more time to complete and allow me to differentiate their instruction without having to drag the entire class to the computer lab. By having students access a bank of computers on a rotating basis, I can stagger the responses in the Writing Room, so students in my class can not only respond to other classes, but to each others comments. I believe that this will make The Writing Room much more interactive than receiving twenty-six, unrelated entries all at once. All students can take the time they need to complete, well thought out entries and because the entries are staggered, the conversation strands might be longer as well.

All that to say... I am looking at if student written output increases over the course of the term by offering many on-line opportunities to work in different applications. As well, I am trying to create a technology rich environment where students become accustomed to using technology for their classroom projects. If technology is used all the time, is available all the time, will students be more likely to use it to present and create their projects? To assess this, I am going to have students create a written response using pen and paper and create a similar response using typed response. I will use a similar or the same questions in March and in June to see if written responses increase, both pen and paper as well as on-line.