While technology could be further woven throughout the curriculum, I observed and participated in utilizing a fair amount of technology with the children at The Kid's Place during my student teaching.
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1. Speaker/Microphone Technology: Given the presence of two hearing impaired students in my afternoon class, it was necessary for me to become competent using a speaker and microphone system to project my voice for these students. One of my students had ear molds and the other had a cochlear implant. Whenever I addressed the entire class, I wore a microphone head piece and ensured that my voice was projecting out of several speakers stationed around the classroom. Becoming familiar with the equipment and conscious of how best to meet the needs of my hearing impaired students was a very useful and interesting use of technology in my class. |
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2. Digital Camera and I•Movie: During the first weeks leading up to Back to School Night, I spent a good amount of time taking pictures of the students with a digital camera. I took pictures before, during and after a range of classroom activities. When appropriate, I showed my students the pictures and they became very excited about the capacity of the camera to display the images. After taking a bunch of these digital photos, I worked with my cooperating teacher to create an i•movie to show the kids and their parents at Back to School Night. The kindergartners thoroughly enjoyed viewing this i•movie and grew incredibly excited at the sight of their own faces on the screen. This was a very innovative and exciting use of technology in our classroom that made our students far more aware of the capabilities of technology. |
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3. Technology Centers: During their science and technology centers each week, the children devoted time to working on educational software independently, using their listening skills, their computer skills, their typing skills, their mouse manipulation skills and furthering their knowledge of the capabilities of technology. |
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4. Computer and Tape Recorder Use in the Classroom: The students dictated stories about "How to Cook a Turkey" that parent volunteers transcribed on the computer during a unit on Thanksgiving. Technology was integrated in the classroom during Literacy Centers at the listening station where students were able to listen to a story read on tape. |
