2.- INTEGRATING
TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSROOM
Integrating Technology into the Language Arts
Classroom
It may seem to some that the primary foci of
English classrooms, communicating through reading and writing, are not
conducive to technology integration. In fact, just the opposite is true. There
are numerous ways English and language arts teachers can integrate technology
into classroom instruction. Teachers of language arts and literature can use
the Internet, digital media tools, and common software applications to enhance
student learning.
Technology can help you:
Create visual aids for teaching
Improve access to resources, such as online
literature libraries
Review and comment on student work more
efficiently
Integrate video clips into presentations
Broaden choices for students to demonstrate
learning
Lesson Ideas
Assign Digital Presentations—While it is still
important for students to master the research process, the product of research
is not limited to a printed research report. Students can demonstrate their
learning in a digital presentation. They can create a Web site or use a
hypermedia tool, such as Hyperstudio, to create a stand-alone presentation.
Require students to cite their sources, as they would on any research project.
It is also important to teach them the importance of gaining permission to use
copyrighted material, such as images and music. If you have a class home page,
connect Web presentations to your site so others can experience it.
Connect to Books Online—historically,
supplemental reading materials were limited to the holdings on the English
bookroom shelf. Technology now provides access to thousands of books online.
Teachers are limited only by the students' ability to access a computer. The
Online Books Page offers more than 20,000 titles in its free digital library.
Use WebQuests—This popular Web activity is
well-suited to language arts and literature exploration. A WebQuest is a
detailed set of questions and tasks that lead students to the Internet to
research topics. They then complete a task or set of tasks based on their
research.
The WebQuest can result in a product as simple
as a one-page document or as complex as a multi-faceted project. For example,
teachers have written WebQuests that require students to explore themes
presented in literature, to review and analyze the bias in newspaper writing,
or write pieces of historical fiction. The form can be adapted easily to your
purposes. Visit the WebQuest Portal (http://webquest.org/)
to read more about it.
Streaming Media for On Demand Viewing—While
Web-based streaming video is available for individuals through a number of
sources, most educational institutions subscribe to a vendor that provides
access to thousands of audio and visual resources. While it may be appropriate
to occasionally show a film of literary merit in its entirety, day-to-day
instruction is often enhanced using a short video clip. Streaming video
provides quick and easy access to such clips. Teachers can bookmark or provide
links to the clips, and even integrate them into online presentations.
Additionally, in most cases, students can access the video clips when and where
they want, and as often as they need.
Grammar Instruction—Individualized instruction
is increasingly important. While written comments or one-on-one conferences
provide effective venues for individualization, technology can provide another.
In high school, the most effective grammar instruction is individualized. Some
students may have mastered a concept, such as irregular verbs, while others are
still trying to understand a founding concept, such as verb tense. One way to
individualize instruction is by directing students to interactive Web sites.
PowerPoint™ Presentations—If you have attended
a conference lately, most likely the presenter used PowerPoint™ to provide
visual interest and guidance. The presentation program can also be used to
enhance instruction in the language arts classroom. Consider the following
tips.
Store daily objectives in a PowerPoint™
presentation and begin each class session by sharing the daily objectives.
Create PowerPoint™ presentations for essential
notes and provide students the slides using the "handout" option.
This will prevent students from focusing on simply copying the notes from the
board or overhead. Rather, they will listen to teacher comments and make
meaningful notes in the spaces provided. Limit the amount of information on
each slide to one or two important points.
Encourage students to use PowerPoint™
presentations when they are required to present to the class. The design
options encourage self-expression and creativity. Instruct students to limit
the amount of information on each slide to one or two important points.
Word Processing Software—Writing projects that
involve multiple drafts are well-suited to using word processing programs.
Drafts are easily revised and formatted using these tools. Extend its power to
aid instruction by using the "review" feature available in programs
such as Word Perfect™ or Microsoft Word™. The feature can be used for teachers
or peers to interject annotations or comments, line by line, on student work.
You can also track changes to evaluate how students used peer review comments
to improve or change their work.
This article was contributed by Janice
Christy, M.Ed., English Department Chair,
© 2000-2005
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. All rights reserved.
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