Unit Five!

Reflecting on what I know


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1. What are the benefits of using problem-solving or educational software?

The text gives us this gives us these benefits for both problem solving and educational software:

· Increased student attention and motivation

· Students exercise thinking, planning, learning, and technical skills.

· Increased student learning

· Actively engage students in critical thinking

· Supports real-world application of knowledge and skill

(Morrison & Lowther, 2010)

2. How do I choose the correct software?

According to the authors of our text there are 5 criteria for choosing the correct software for your classroom:

1. Check for content accuracy

2. Check for research-based instructional strategies

3. Decide if it meets your instructional objectives

4. Decide if the objectives can be assessed

5. Make sure it’s easy to use and is appropriate for the intended audience.

(Morrison & Lowther, 2010).

3. When I integrate problem-solving or educational software into a lesson, what changes will be

needed?
In order to integrate software into your classroom you need to fist review all of the content and activities and decide if it is appropriate for what you need your students to do and learn. After you have decided on software you need to give your students support activities for before, during and after computer use to ensure that they are learning and not just playing with the computer.


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1. What can I do to “get ready” for a lesson in which my students use computers?

I think the most important thing to do first is to make sure that you have all of your activities planned out and ready to go for both you and the students. Including activities for before, during and after as well as assessments. Make sure that you know how the software works and how to teach it to your students. If you have everything ready to go, and know what you're doing everything should run smoothly.

2. Where does the “computer part” come when I am teaching a lesson?

Before you allow your students to work on the computer you need to make sure that you have given them all of their objectives and instructions and that they have everything they need ready. Just as everything has to be ready for before computer use and during computer use you need to have activities ready to go once they are done with their computer time.

3. How do you ensure equal access for all students with only three computers?

In order to make sure that students get equal time on the computer you have to have a rotation schedule in place. One way to do this have the students rotate in groups if the computers must be used in a short time or one day, this way each student will get a chance at the computer. If you are doing a unit over several days or weeks you can rotate them individually throughout the week so they each get time and are able to work on other activities at their desk.