Table+Discussions


 * Highlights from the Table Discussions at the January 15th Meeting

What's Been Good?** ·  Students using technology daily in their learning ·  Exchange of ideas with other schools – access to technology that would not have otherwise ·  Knowing that I can use the computers anytime and learning new ways to use them ·  More students are excited about writing. Their writing is more organized and revising is no longer painful ·  Student growth with respect to computer hardware and technology has greatly improved ·  The kids are writing more – The kids are talking to kids at other schools m- Introducing technology to kids ·  Open up writing to all types of students – Learn new way to organize writing ·  Receiving laptops increased enthusiasm for writing – Use of technology has opened lots of doors ·  Getting the laptops ·  I love blogging! It has completely altered my “reflection process” ·  Gotten me excited about using technology in new ways!!! ·  My confidence in using the computer has increased. This has enhanced my ability in teaching students what I have learned. What an exciting experience ·  Class set (shared w/70 students) of “cool” laptops – engagement – blog ·  Getting the laptops and seeing the increased motivation and enthusiasm from the students – Finding new strategies and tools – possibilities for research ·  An established and consistent writing block has been awesome! It has been particularly motivating ·  Student enthusiasm about using the computers – teacher learnings re: blogging – access to computers for our 5th grade projects

·  Working with documents – saving in the right place – Jump drives very inconsistent ·  Problems dealing with hardware shortcomings ·  Sharing, having time to make technology lesson plans – Use of small computers, especially using flash drives and saving ·  Time management – spending time dealing with technology questions instead of writing conferences ·  “D” drive issues and flash drive issues ·  Fitting everything in – D drive issues ·  Time ·  Sharing between classrooms and having to have different schedules – Lost/missing thumbdrives – copying whole thumbdrives onto a computer ·  Connecting – Saving and printing – sharing computers ·  Just getting the courage to try something, but Dana has helped me so much with that ·  The wireless piece has been a problem ·  The consistency of using the eeePCs. ·  Sharing computers – connecting with printers ·  Saving in the correct place – copying D drive to the hard drive – lost thumbdrives – logistics of having to share with another class ·  Connecting - saving to thumbdrives – printers – only 25 computers for 3 classes ·  Time!! – keyboarding skills – we’ve had a few printer issues, but fixable
 * What's Been a Struggle?**

·  They are engaged, they tend to be more responsible with technology and the equipment ·  Improved tech skills – Improved writing skills ·  They love to use computers to write, love to blog and we are just working on PowerPoint presentations so I feel they are getting more technology skills ·  Enthusiasm for writing – Improvement in keyboarding ·  Students have so much more confidence on computers. Seem excited and even a sense of maturity is seen in handling the laptops. They seem to respect the technology in the building. ·  The kids want writing time to come – They enjoy writing more ·  Excited about writing ·  Increased motivation ·  Kids prefer keyboarding so it is easier to get them to write ·  My kids are SO motivated by the eeePC. I love them. They do their homework just to use the eeePC. ·  Excited about projects ·  Students have become more confident writers ·  Engagement with blog ·  Increased motivation, longer writing stamina, organizing folders ·  Motivation – Fluency with technology ·  I think they feel empowered to do their assignments even if they don’t have computer access at home – giving up recess
 * What Impact Have You Seen?**