Week 9

1. I completed the mid-course evaluation.
2. I completed the informed consent.
3. Interview with kindergarten teacher at Rock Canyon Elementary.

What technologies are available in the classroom?
She has a laptop, VCR/DVD player, overhead projector, and a "mobile" computer lab. The students also go into the school computer lab with a specialist a few times each week.

What technologies do you wish were available in the classroom?
She wishes she had a digital camera and a video camera as well. Some classrooms at the school have a type of smart board called a Promethean board where you can hook it up to your computer and teach from there.

She mentioned something I found interesting. Title 1 schools get more money, meaning they have more "toys".

How do you use technology to get ideas and prepare materials for the classroom?
She uses her laptop a lot to create worksheets, etc. for her students to do at centers. She also uses the clip art. Another way she uses technology is the internet. She is able to look at the UEN website for ideas for lesson plans. A final way she uses technology is by having a class website for her students parents, which she admitted was not as easy keeping up on as she thought.

Do you think kindergartners are too young to use technology themselves?
As long as it is on their level, she feels that the kids love using the technology. In her experience, they like to play with different programs and manipulate pictures, etc. They also use pictures to make class books for their class library.

Do you think the kids enjoy using technology when they have the opportunity?
She definitely thinks kids enjoy using technology. In her classroom, she makes using the laptops a "choice activity". The kids must finish their "job activity" in order to use the computers. It is a great motivator! The kids also really enjoy going and using the computers in the school computer lab!