How I Use Technology
In the classroom, I often lecture with a PowerPoint presentation projected up on the whiteboard. I underline the notes on the board that I want students to write down in their notebooks. I also use the projector to show slide shows, videos from united streaming or Thinkfinity and fun day movies. I sometimes bring in an iPod with a boom box to plug it in to play for the students (that way I control the playlist). We have a computer lab that has a presenter’s computer whose screen is projected onto a white screen and I can demonstrate what I want students to do on their computers. This works well when we are doing research on the internet and to model how to set up a bibliography page. If there is extra time at the end of class, we look up questions from class discussion with the internet projected up on the white board. The students are able to see where I have found the information and what site. I am careful to freeze the projector screen until I have found what I want the students to see. I have made the mistake in the past of letting them see my search. Remember, you have no control over what Google finds, especially images.
In my professional life, Email is a must for communication with peers and students. I construct PowerPoint presentations for students and for peers (Demo). I write worksheets on MSWord, this way they are saved for future classes in case I lose the last hard copy. My chapter tests and quizzes are constructed with Exam Builder Software. This software is provided by the schools. It is purchased with the textbooks. This allows for the tests to completely align with the covered material. I often search the web for info or worksheets from other teachers on a subject. It never fails to amaze me how much material is available free for use from the internet.
