K-8 Computer Lab Teachers

Hello. I am not sure if there is a discussion out there for computer lab teachers yet. If not, I would like to start one so we can bounce ideas and resources off each other. I spent my first year teaching as a computer lab teacher. At first I was hesitant because I thought I would be a classroom teacher. Now, I love it and feel I am in the right place at the right time.

This September I start my second year only this time i am at a Chicago Public School with 600+ students. I have a lot of work to do to prepare and would love to talk with anyone about tips, tricks, what to avoid, etc.

Thanks,
Jeremiah Olson

Tags: computer, lab, labs

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Permalink Reply by Colette Cassinelli on March 11, 2008 at 11:59am

I have been collecting examples of how educators are using Voicethread at http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/ It should give you an idea how teachers are using it in the classroom.

If you end up making one - feel free to add yours to the wiki.

Colette Cassinelli
http://www.edtechvision.org

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Permalink Reply by Amber Coggin on March 11, 2008 at 12:58pm

Colette,

Exactly what I've been looking for. Planning a St. Patty's day Voicethread in my head right now! :)

Thanks,
Amber

Permalink Reply by Erin McGuyer on March 11, 2008 at 1:13pm

I just had students do Voice Thread on blogging and First Amendment Heros.
I will add them when I get a chance.

Permalink Reply by Amber Coggin on March 11, 2008 at 2:11pm

Robin, I emailed you at your work email address. Let me know if you don't get it!

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Permalink Reply by Ellen on March 10, 2008 at 3:50pm

Hi, I'm in my fifth year running a K-5 computer lab in Brooklyn NY. I work with about 400 kids a week. Over the past couple of years, I have moved away from print projects with my students, who are in grades K-5 and with whom I meet once a week (with a few lucky classes that come to me twice a week). We are doing animation, wikis, blog responses (I'd love to set up individual blogs for my older kids, but we're not there yet), podcasts and we're just beginning some collaborations online with schools in other parts of the city and in other states. I've done PowerPoint with Grades 3-5, but after I do an initial project to familiarize my kids with the software (likewise word processing apps like Word and Appleworks), I've been moving on. We learn how to use a search engine, Internet safety and how to use a number of graphics programs.

Specifically, I use (in varying degrees), MS Office,;Appleworks; iLife; Tech4Learning's Frames, Pixie, and Twist; Kidspiration; Kid Pix Deluxe 3X and the Edumark suite for the little kids (Bailey, Millie, and crew). We do a little bit of keyboarding, but I don't like to spend too much time on it as the kids figure out the keyboard out of necessity as they write their scripts and wiki/blog entries. I have steered them to some online keyboarding programs like Learn2Type, and I have Type to Learn 3 in the lab.

I'm really excited about using some new Web 2.0 applications like Voicethread and Animoto (for fifth grade this spring), but this has been the Year of the Wiki for us. Our class wikis are all private at this point, but I hope to have some protected wikis going at some point, so the audience will be larger than our school community. I started up a new blog this year (ps233techteacher.edublogs.org), and we've just getting back into using blogging (Last year was The Year of the Blog).

I'm happy to find a computer lab community here.
You can check out my website at http://nylearns.org/ephillips

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Permalink Reply by Kate Pomroy on March 11, 2008 at 10:07am

There is a computer keyboard at www.chestercreek.com called the LessonBoard that is color-coded by finger to help kids learn correct fingering before bad habits are formed. Nice keyobard. Standard sized, bright colors....I guess they are in a number of labs already and the kids all fight (not literally) to use them. I think there is a free trial of Web-based keyboarding software that matches the colors.

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Permalink Reply by George Somers on March 11, 2008 at 2:01pm

I think this is a great idea. I am a K-8 Computer Teacher at a Catholic school in California. I am especially interested in the software being used, both free and otherwise. I would like to share information, resources and ideas with other teachers in this area. I'm kind of new to this type of forum but I think it can be a valuable tool.

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Permalink Reply by Kate Pomroy on March 12, 2008 at 8:47am

Check out www.customtyping.com - I am sure you can try out the typing software free to see if it would work for you.

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Permalink Reply by George Somers on March 12, 2008 at 1:50pm

Actually, I recently discovered Customtyping and my 8th graders just finished the 30-day trial. I am pretty impressed and plan to pursue this in the Fall (when I get another round of budget funding). If you have experience with Customtyping, please let me know. I'd like to hear about your experience with it.

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Permalink Reply by Kate Pomroy on March 12, 2008 at 3:09pm

Great program...follows students to every grade and doesn't let them advance if they haven't mastered a particular skill set. (Mavis Beacon will let students advance, and they cannot go back if a problem is discovered later) We have tried most all of the typing tutorials and by far, CustomTyping is the best. (It is especially useful when used with the color-coded keyboard- and there is a 3-month free trial when a keyboard is purchased) Just an FYI----

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Permalink Reply by J Harrington on March 11, 2008 at 3:52pm

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on March 11, 2008 at 4:50pm

I just returned to classroom this fall after 10 years and am also a computer lab teacher. I might not be a wealth of knowledge but every bit helps.
Chrissy