1. Sibyl Minighini
EDUU 551
Notes for Grabe & Grabe Chapter 1
Chapter One - Key Themes and Issues for Using Technology in Your Classroom
- There are many misconceptions (11) surrounding the use of technology in the
classroom; many believe technology isolates students from each other and the teacher. In
fact, technology is a tool, and is not responsible for any isolation that might occur in
classrooms.
- Technology such as educational computer software allows for students to discover
material rather than be passive recipients of teacher-dispensed knowledge. Assignments
such as electronic portfolios (10) and tutorials (17) allow for students to work together
to integrate course knowledge.
- Technology allows students to get a deeper understanding of course material through
case studies (12). A good example is the Sociology instructor’s assignments, requiring
students to go to cultural events and describe them on the computer.
- Computers can be programmed to facilitate course material as tutors or tutees (17).
Tutor programs allow for computers to guide students through course material and review
as appropriate. Tutee programs allow students to show what they have learned and can
input into a program.
- Classroom technology can be programmed to inform students when they need to review
material, or students can decide when they need review based on computer assessment of
their performance.
- Even though there has been a strong push for the use of computers in schools, most
teachers report that students spend very little time working with computers on a weekly
basis. Some reasons for this include inequity in resources and access (18) to information
across schools.
- In order for computers to be successfully integrated in the schools, teachers will need to
be flexible regarding their changing role. Rather than teachers giving information to
students in a measured manner, students will need to accept more responsibility for their
learning (20) as they use technology to help go from concept to concept.
- Metacognition (47) is becoming increasingly important in schools, and it basically
means thinking about how you think/learn (being aware of your thoughts in the present
and what the thoughts say about how you think).