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How Do I Engage My Students When I Have:

A Single Computer with Internet Access (and an LCD)

While the ideal situation is having every student engaged on a computer, the reality is you may have only one internet-linked computer in the classroom. Have no fear; there is a wealth of learning opportunities that your students can experience within this type of computing environment. Read below for a description of the different types of classroom management scenarios and instructional methods that you can employ.

Presentation Tool:

A single computer can be a useful tool when used for presentations. This is enhanced when combined with a TV or other type of presentation device that enables the entire class to see the screen.

Tips:

  • Allow students to come to the floor to see better.
  • Use a presentation device such as TView Gold which allows you to spotlight, highlight, zoom, or use an on screen pointer.
    http://www.focusinfo.com/products/tview_gold/tview_gold.htm
  • Visit web pages ahead of time to reduce the download time by storing them in the cache.
  • Have pages you want to share with students saved as a favorite.
  • Encourage students to be the "driver," by letting them click the mouse as you direct them.
  • Make a presentation using Power Point.
  • Use the CD player to play relaxing theme music.
  • Guided tours
  • Audio clips

Station Rotation for a small group of students

A small group of students can effectively utilize one computer during rotation-type activities. A teacher can set up several activities around the room and have small groups of students rotate to the internet-linked computer.

Tips:

  • Internet excursions such as WebQuests
  • Collaborative Projects
  • Interactive simulations
  • Interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations
  • Encourage cooperative groups by assigning each student a certain time limit for operating the keyboard and mouse.
  • Assign different job titles to students- Tech Leader, Recorder, Decision-Maker, Reader etc.
  • Have an extra station set up for discussion time or a chance to "catch up."

Independent Center

An Internet station can be set up as an independent center for individual students to move to when finished with class work, as a tutorial, enrichment, or for reference.

Tips:

A hotlist of resources that deal specifically with one-computer classrooms

Tips for using one computer with 25 or more students
http://www.techtrain.org/resource/1c_uses.htm

Integrating technology in the primary classroom
http://www.techtrain.org/resource/1c_mngmt.htm

But I don't have a computer lab!
http://www.serve.org/seir-tec/present/onecomptr.html

Links:

  • How Can I Use the Internet?

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