Chapter Eleven Reflections

1. What can I do to "get ready" for a lesson in which my students use computers?
To speed set up time for the lesson you can make sure that all of the computers are on and the program in which you are using is open.  You can also have a list of favorite sites, or bookmark some sites, and resources ready to use if the students will be doing research. Make sure that the students know what they are supposed to be doing by preparing a step-by-step handout and give them a rubric to allow them to know how they will be graded.  The students should be able to come in, sit down at the computer, and begin working right away if you prepare your class for computer use.

2. Where does the "computer part" come when I am teaching a lesson?
The "computer part" can come anytime in your lesson depending on your plan of action and the number of computers available to your class.  Introduce the class to the lesson, then students can break into groups if you do not have enough computers for everyone. You should always prepare material that the students can work on while they are not at a computer so that no one is sitting with their head on the desk and nothing to do.

3. How do you ensure equal access for all students with only three computers?
You can prepare a lesson in which the entire class works on one project together at the same computer, or if you would prefer to break up into groups, you can use timers to make sure that groups get the same amount of time.  Prepare several stations around the classroom so that each group can move from station to station working on a little bit of the project at a time while they are waiting for their turn at the computer.