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Technology in Elementary Education
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Computer labs: they abound in almost every elementary school nowadays. But as a teacher, are you really making good use of them? While there may not be a technology section on your students’ report cards, it is something they should become accustomed to as early as possible.
The International Society for Technology in Education has created a book of standards for students in grades PK-12. Your school district may have even adopted these standards or they may have created their own expectations in this area. I encourage you to become familiar with these standards and let them guide your class’ time in the computer lab.
Some schools, such as the elementary school where I work, have an able-bodied person working in the computer lab who may assist in teaching certain skills. At other schools, it may be you as the classroom teacher who is faced with the challenge of bringing your students into the world of technology. No matter which situation you are faced with, it is imperative that you take advantage of your school’s resources and assist your students in becoming computer literate.
Time with your class is valuable; every minute counts. When you are making decisions about how to constructively make use of your time in the computer lab, think about what you are teaching your class in other subject areas and how you can integrate computers into their learning activities. Also think about what your students’ prior knowledge is in relation to computers. Do your students know how to properly type? If not, start there. Type to Learn by Sunburst has a wonderful program for teaching students how to properly type. If this skill is not in place, your students will struggle with using Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Power Point.
Differentiate your teaching in the computer lab. If you have some students who need to learn some basic typing skills but other students who are beyond this point, create activities that will best suit their needs. One group of students may be working on typing skills while another group is learning how to use Microsoft Word. You may also divide up your time in the lab. The first half of the session may consist of a typing program while the second half is spent navigating an educational website.
It should no longer be considered a privilege to use computers, but rather a right and a need for every student who has these resources available to them. As teachers, we peer at the future every day, in the eyes of every student. If a child with little to no knowledge of technology is staring back, we are failing; we are failing our students as well as the future of our nation. They may only inherit the future if we give them the opportunity to do so.
For additional resources, please consult your district website as well as the links listed below:
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