Chapter 1 Reflections

Must I use a inquiry-based learning approach in my classroom to use computers as a tool?

Education today has many advances in technology to help teachers promote learning in the classroom.  The advantage of using computers in the class room is that it leaves the doorway open for all learning approaches such as problem solving and inquiry based learning.  It is important for the teacher to know the students and the best learning approaches in the classroom with the use of computers.  Teachers can use computers as a valuable tool in education.

Can I still use tutorials and drill-and practice software?

Tutorials and drill-and-practice software can be helpful in the classroom to teachers if it serves the objective of what the teacher is wanting the students to accomplish.  Many of these software programs can be beneficial to the learning of students in the classroom.  Many school districts have adopted software programs to help improve education such as Accelerated Reader and Success Builder that focuses on reading and math skills.  Teachers have to take the time to examine these software programs to see if they will be helpful.  It is a good idea to have more than one teacher to choose the software for students because the more approaches the software is seen in the easier it is to decide what is beneficial.

Won't I have to spend a great deal of time to develop these units of instruction?

As a teacher it will take time to create any lesson plan.  It will take some extra time especially in the first year to incorporate units of instruction with the computer as a tool.  Many teachers are willing to work together to find the best lesson plans for the subjects or grade they teach.  This creates a sharing and feedback atmosphere for teacher resources and ideas.  Teachers use problem solving in the creation and implemation of lesson plans through trial and error.  By attempting these lesson plans teachers leave room to improve or change the instruction to reach the objectives.  The teachers can then decide what works and what doesn't.

Won't every student need a computer to use it as a tool?

Even though technology is advancing in education many schools have not reached all students having their own computer in the classroom or at home.  Many school systems are lacking these because of budget cuts on the local, state, and federal government levels.  Many schools do provide one to four computers in the classroom or computer lab access in the school.  However, the entire school shares this one lab so it is not accessible to one teacher all of the time.  The few computers in the classroom does allow teachers to use as a tool.  The teacher can create a schedule of student usage.