Question:
I would be interested in learning how many English teachers out there are
actively using computers in there lessons. I am a soon to be middle
school English teacher with high hopes of integrating technology into my
lesson plans. What sort of software is out there? Do you notice the
kids being able to apply what they have learned on the computers to there
own work?
Answer:
I've taught English and Language Arts grades 6 - 11 over my career. I
suggest using the software that will do the kids the most good -- software
that will teach students to function in high school, college and the work
world -- Microsoft Office 97 (Word and PowerPoint) and Corel WordPerfect.
With both pieces of software. the students learn to transfer basic knowledge
into a new format and troubleshoot with toolbars and help. The students,
also, learn to produce quality, professional work that will be expected of
them later in life. The other skill that should be taught to middle school
students
is appropriate and effective ways to use the Internet for information
gathering (research) for their coursework. Although I no longer teach
English or Language Arts, I have been running an alternative-education
program for disadvantaged students the last three years. Our focus is
marketable skills through equity in technological access. I am a firm
believer that schools waste way too much money on "packaged software
curriculum" that is no more than a glorified textbook. Furthermore, the
advantages to using educational software, such as tracking progress,
hard-core
project development, and lessons that work across the curriculum, often go
unused by teachers due to time management and lack of training. I believe a
good
teacher can provide more interactive and multi-sensorial learning than most
of the
over-priced educational software available. Furthermore, the educational
software used by school systems does not teach students to be "computer
literate". Students do not learn the simple manipulation skills needed to
run a PC and its software -- skills needed in order to have their own PC and
be confident employees in the future. Schools would be doing their students
more good by using "real-world" software as a way to teach practical skills
through their traditional lesson plans -- at a fraction of the cost. (My
husband used to work for one of the more popular educational software
companies and we are convinced that the school systems are being taken for a
very expensive ride.) The great thing about teaching students the ABC's of
PC use and basic office software is that teachers do not have to be the font
of all knowledge. With the right guidelines set in place, a teacher can
learn right along with her/his students -- I did and the experience was
wonderful.
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