One computer solutions - Great Teaching in the One Computer Classroom by David Dockterman

One computer and 30 students. What can a teacher possibly do with a single computer in the classroom to enhance student learning? Quite a bit, according to David Dockterman, a former teacher and the author of Great Teaching in the One Computer Classroom.

INCREASE TEACHER PRODUCTIVITY

Use the computer to become more productive. "It's not so much about giving students hands-on experiences with the computer, as it is using the computer as a tool to create great educational experiences," David says. For example, use a word processing program to create worksheets for particular lessons. If the activity needs to be revised at a later date, the process is simple. A single computer can also increase a teacher's ability to .keep accurate and thorough records and communicate regularly with parents. (Newsletter templates like those in ClarisWorks make notes home a breeze.)

CREATE ENGAGING PRESENTATIONS

Making a computer screen larger by hooking it up to a television set is a highly effective way for 30 students to view the same information. It may be as easy as connecting a cable from the computer to the television set, or purchasing a scan converter that converts the signal from the computer to the TV. Either option is relatively inexpensive (under $200). Ask your technology coordinator for more information about these hookups.

Once you've got your computer hooked up to the big screen, you and your students can share slide shows (ClarisWorks) and multimedia presentations (Hyperstudio), view information from the Internet, or complete a group simulation.

COOPERATIVE LEARNING ON THE COMPUTER

Cooperative-learning activities take advantage of the computer as a tool that students occasionally consult as they complete a given task. Let's say you're studying the rain forest. You might form cooperative groups, giving each student an authentic role - botanist, environmentalist, biologist, and economist. As children gather information related to their roles, they may consult a variety of sources, including CD-ROM reference tools, Web sites, nonfiction books, and so on. Students are consulting various tools, so there's no need for them to use the computer at the same time. Prepare your own cooperative projects or use commercially prepared programs, such as Science Court and Decisions, Decisions by Tom Snyder.

REWARDS OR ROTATIONS?

"I finished my work. Can I use the computer?" According to David, this is "probably the most common use of a computer in the classroom." The disadvantage is that the computer becomes accessible to only some of the students, and the activities students complete may not support the curriculum. One way to get all students on the computer in meaningful ways is through a center or station approach to learning. Small groups of students rotate through various activities, including the computer. For example, when studying graphing in math, students might rotate through the roles of survey writer and data gatherer, and then move on to the computer station to create graphs of the data they've collected.

Ruth Melendez, an Instructor advisor, is a 3-4-5-grade teacher at High Plains Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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