Using Technology to Enhance Education
Probably my most common current use of technology which enhances education is the use of screen sharing software that our district employs, chiefly as a way of monitoring students' computer use. I do use the program for this, but I also often and working at my desk when a student may have a question about an assignment they are working on using their computers. By pulling up their screen I can help them with editing of documents or technological problems they are having with the program they are using. I can take control of their screens and give them instruction on how to use the program or I might pull up a browser and show them some alternate search options or take them to a particular website.
The screen sharing software also has a chat feature, and I sometime use this as a private way of redirecting behavior, or, if I have a concern about the student I can chat with them privately without calling attention to them.
Some of the things I am exploring are the use of Screen Cast O Matic ( https://screencast-o-matic.com/account ) to publish videos I have made that students can use as additional resources for the classroom. This weekend I am working on posting video / audio clips of me reading the book we are using for Alaska History so that my special education students can follow along. My philosophy in choosing texts is that I want to choose something that challenges my students rather than "dumbing down" the material. By posting the video/audio files, I am hoping that I can use this material while making it more accessible to those who may have some difficulty in reading. The first of these videos has been added to my Alaska History page on my website at http://www.maximumachievementprogram.org/AKHistory.html . Under the assignment for The Czar Looks East.
I am also planning on using the Screen Cast O Matic tool for my math class to post videos on using Google Sheets. Those will be posted at http://www.maximumachievementprogram.org/Business-Math.html once I get those done.
The screen sharing software also has a chat feature, and I sometime use this as a private way of redirecting behavior, or, if I have a concern about the student I can chat with them privately without calling attention to them.
Some of the things I am exploring are the use of Screen Cast O Matic ( https://screencast-o-matic.com/account ) to publish videos I have made that students can use as additional resources for the classroom. This weekend I am working on posting video / audio clips of me reading the book we are using for Alaska History so that my special education students can follow along. My philosophy in choosing texts is that I want to choose something that challenges my students rather than "dumbing down" the material. By posting the video/audio files, I am hoping that I can use this material while making it more accessible to those who may have some difficulty in reading. The first of these videos has been added to my Alaska History page on my website at http://www.maximumachievementprogram.org/AKHistory.html . Under the assignment for The Czar Looks East.
I am also planning on using the Screen Cast O Matic tool for my math class to post videos on using Google Sheets. Those will be posted at http://www.maximumachievementprogram.org/Business-Math.html once I get those done.
I found your post very interesting because you are coming from a high school background. When i think of technology I think of it in terms of incorporating it into elementary classrooms, so it is interesting to see a different perspective on what is effective technology uses in classrooms for older students.
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