Bringing the High School Classroom into the 21st Century
There is a tendency to assume that high school students are quite familiar and comfortable with technology. Typically they are seen texting on their cell phones, listening to their iPods, and surfing the net. They may be skilled video gamers, connected with their friends through instant messaging and FaceBook and some even use their own laptop.
Most high school students have experience completing research and using presentation software but their ability to evaluate reliable websites or knowing how to use a wiki or Windows Movie Maker or another technology tool may reflect what they’ve been exposed to, which may be limited depending on the school resources available.
In addition many high school teachers lack extensive knowledge or training in using the range of technology tools available. This is where the school’s Library Media Specialist can be of assistance as they can assist teachers in exploring ways to integrate technology into their classroom, provide training and assist it the use of technology in the classroom.
Useful Articles
Using Technology in the Classroom - Understanding that high school teachers are under a great deal of pressure to prepare students for standard achievement test this article suggests that using technology can improve achievement without taking away from the curriculum.
A Change in Attitude: Incorporating Technology In the Classroom Gives Curriculum a Boost - looks at how Harrison Central High School made the commitment to integrating technology into the classroom and shares examples of how it was utilized.
Research and Presentation Tools
Traditionally one thinks of completing research and doing presentations as a major part of technology use in high schools. There is much truth to this. Students often need to access databases and websites in pursuit of needed information for their assigned research project.
Research projects in Social Studies may range from exploring controversial social issues such as assisted suicide or steroid use in school sports to learning about particular topics in American History such as the Civil Rights movement or presidential elections. Additional research subjects may include gathering medical information about various diseases in Health class to learning about the various elements in Integrated Science. The possibilities are extensive.
Typically for research projects students would require computers for word processing and to access to Internet web sites and Databases. Students typically have folders on the network server available to them for storing their files and documents. Access to computers is an absolute necessity for all students.
Once the research is completed students would need some means of presenting their findings. Often a written paper is required but typically presentation software supplements the work. The most common presentation software used is Microsoft Power Point. This program not only allows one to include written, often bulleted, information, but allows images to be added as well as links to web sites and videos. A link to a podcast could also be included.
The technology needed to show the Power Point includes a laptop and multimedia projector. It is helpful if the students save their presentation on a flash drive so that it does not need to be downloaded to the laptop that typically belongs to the computer lab or library.
Another means to present their research might be to use Microsoft Publisher to create a brochure. As mentioned above for the Integrated Science class student could create a brochure on their assigned element using images as well as written information.
Blogs
Blogs and wikis are two technology tools with a wide range of applications. As defined by Wikipedia, blogs basically are a type of website, typically maintained by an individual, that contain regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. Images, photos, podcasts and videos can be embedded in the blog. For use in schools edublogs should be used for teaching.
A general use of a blog would be for each class to have its own. They can be accessed by your student from both school and home. Material and resources can be added to your class blog noting homework, upcoming assignments, reminders, discussions or thoughts about the class, etc.
Online discussions can be a part of the blog. Students can discuss topics you’ve set up for them. Or students can work together to create a class news publication. It could even be a place where students, or parents, can air issues or concerns. Edublogs can also be set up to be a functioning website to create a source of static content.
Wikis
A wiki is a type of software program that allows web pages to be created and collaboratively edited using a common web browser. The collaborative encyclopedia Wikipedia is one of the best-known wikis. Wikis can be edited but all changes made to the content is saved so one is able to track changes. What you are reading now is a wiki.
Wikis can be used in similar ways to blogs but because it’s a collaborative tool it holds more possibilities. Educational wikis can be set up at PB Works, http://pbworks.com/academic.wiki. Some uses for wikis will be mentioned below under particular subject headings but for further ideas check out the following website, 50 Ways to Use Wikis for a More Collaborative and Interactive Classroom.,
Possible tools and resources:
· Cameras – digital, video and flip camcorder
· Smart Board - an interactive whiteboard that is touch sensitive and can be written upon - it can be connected to the Internet through a laptop which can be projected onto the board using a multimedia projector
· Webquests - an inquiry-oriented lesson that utilizes the web resources
· Open Office - free open source software that has applications similar to Microsoft products and is compatible with them as well
· Streaming - videos that can be accessed from Internet web resources
· Podcasts and vodcasts - audio or video programs that can be a downloadable file
· Windows Movie Maker - a Windows-based program where a video can be uploaded and edited to create a movie
· Elmo projector - a projector capable of projecting the image of objects placed on it onto a wall or screen
· Digital microscope - a microscope and digital camera combination with a digital output
· Skype - A service that provides free calling and enables file transfers, texting, video chat and videoconferencing - all you need is a computer and webcam
Virtual tour - a web-based simulation of an real place - gives the sense that you're actually there
Technology Use Suggestions by Subject
ART
- Using a digital camera take pictures of student’s art work and create an online Art Museum by uploading the art work pictures onto a class wiki or website. Podcast interviews with the artist, sharing tidbits about who they are and the techniques used, could be added to the wiki, including a photo of the artist.
- Create an online poster of the cover of the student’s summer reading book using http://edu.glogster.com/
- Take a virtual tour of an Art Museum at http://www.virtualfreesites.com/museums.museums.html
FOOD and NUTRITION
- Create an online cookbook with separate pages for the various types of recipes (soups, desserts, etc.) using a wiki or blog. Take pictures of the finished food item with a digital camera and upload it. Students could add their own review of the recipe to the wiki or blog.
- Using a video camera or a flip camera videotape the preparation of the food item for a class cooking show.
- Blog discussing eating habits of teens and good nutrition.
PARENTING
- Students work collaboratively on a class wiki that describes the different developmental stages of children, adding to and editing the information as the project progresses. Images can be added to the wiki as well as podcast or vodcast interviews of actual parents.
- A webquest on the developmental stages of children and on parenting strategies that would include text data, quizzes, podcast, images, etc.
ENGLISH
- Wiki or website of student created short stories or collection of poems or other writings
- Book review wiki – students write a short summary of the summer reading book they selected and include an image of the book’s cover. Students would add a critique on the book and other students could make additional comments.
- Wiki or website created by the students identifying all the characters in Greek Mythology and providing a brief description of them
- Use Microsoft’s Photo Story 3 – a digital presentation of sounds and images to tell a story with pictures the student has taken with a digital camera.
MATH
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/tools/
or
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=38
LANGUAGES – SPANISH, FRENCH, etc.
Students create an online dictionary of commonly used words in a wiki.
- Use Skype – a tool that allows you to make free calls over the Internet to just about anywhere to connect with a classroom of students in a country that speaks the language you are studying.
- Create an online travel newsletter in a wiki or a brochure in Microsoft Publisher written totally in the studied language using images (non-copyrighted) accessed from the Internet.
- Create podcasts on assigned topics spoken in the studied language
MUSIC
- Create digital recordings, podcasts or vodcasts of student’s performance, singing or playing their instruments, using a microphone and computer
- Students use a video camera to record their own choreographed music video
SCIENCE
- Webquest assisting students in creating a simulated roller coaster to explore the scientific principles involved
- Use a digital microscope to get extreme close-ups in student’s biology or forensics class
- Access the periodic table at the Web Elements Periodic Table webpage, http://www.webelements.com/
- Website of results and information from student’s science fair projects
SOCIAL STUDIES
- Students write speeches to promoting the approval of a particular constitutional amendments and create a podcast or vodcast of the speech
- Ongoing discussions on any number of subjects suggested by the teacher on the class wiki
- Webquest exploring they many layered issues and developments of the Civil Rights / Human Rights movements
- Create profiles of important people, documents and events on a class wiki
- Students use Power Point with embedded images and links to websites or videos on a topic of historical importance
- Videotape students debating issues they have researched and post highlights on the class website or the final product can be edited using Windows Movie Maker to create a short video.
GYM or SPORTS
Use a video or flip camera to record and evaluate a student’s performance so they can see if they are demonstrating proper technique
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