As educators, we are required to not only accept change; but also adapt. Now, more than ever, these 21st century learners learn at an entirely different pace and in a different style than our generation did. I call this generation of students the "Google Generation" because thanks to smart phones, tablets, e-readers and other Internet resources; the students have the answer to any question they have at their finger tips. Therefore, it is imperative that teachers learn new technology concepts to integrate in the classroom to keep students engaged and motivated about learning the same skills that have been taught for years, just in a more "techno-savy" style. Below are ways that I try to frequently integrate technology into the classroom; click on the links to see the samples of each item.
- Our School newspaper: The Hornets Nest. Once of month students are assigned a topic and they are responsible for conducting background research, interviews and collecting evidence that will contribute to a good article about that topic. They are then graded on their writing skills according to the Writer's Checklist.
- PowerPoint or Prezi Summaries: Often when students learn a new concept, or read a nonfiction story, I have them summarize the information for me through PowerPoint versus handwriting a summary. The students enjoy adding all of the different colors, fonts and effects; and it allows them to show symbolic representation of their main idea through clip art usage. Here is an example of their Power Point that gives information about the Election Process.
- MovieMaker or PhotoStory: Students love any chance to hear themselves speak or watch themselves on camera. Instead of generic readers' theater, you can have students adapt their book of the week into a movie or retell it in their own words. For upper grades, you can have students compose their own stories using one of these programs. Here is a video of my students and their nonfiction storybook they composed on test-taking strategies:
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