EDC 714.80 – Education and Technology in the Elementary School

Summer, 2005 – Professor John Toth

Take Home Midterm Examination

 

Please type your response using double space and at least a 12 pt, serif font.    Make sure you address each part of each question because that is how your response will be assessed.

 

  1. This question must be completed in one sitting so give yourself ample time.  You must either tape for later viewing or watch the assignment in real time and the procedure must be followed “to the tee” (hmmm, now how could you make a visual of that LOL).  Get whatever you need to sit and watch TWO hours of Saturday Morning cartoons (you can also watch two hours on Channel 9 or 11 in the 3-5 afternoon slot).  The cartoons MUST be selected from the commercial networks – NO CARTOON NETWORK, PBS or Cable.  Try not to get up from your seat for two solid hours.  Immediately after watching the program, walk around for about 10 or 15 minutes and then respond to the following questions:

 

A.      What is going on in your mind?  What is going on in your body?  If you take the perspective of a child, are you ready for school?  Do you feel like you can concentrate on a subject the minute you can get to school and into class?  If someone bothers you in school, or even on the way to school, how do you think you would handle the situation?  (5 points)

B.      Go to your book…read pages 114-115 about the types of classroom applications that can be facilitated by technology.  How long did it take you to get into the material?  Without looking at your book, (be honest, only read it once and close the book) tell me what is going on in your mind while you are answering the question for this section:  Name and describe the four ways technology can be infused into the classroom (5 points)?

C.      Consider, for a moment, the fact that many children watch television (usually cartoons) right before they go to school as well as while doing their homework after school. How do you think you can apply what you learned in this activity, as well as what we have discussed in class, to enhance the learning environment in your classroom?  (5 points)

 

  1. In Chapter 7 in your book, the authors discuss selecting and using educational software.  Name and discuss the nine types of software described and state how you might use each type in a classroom application. (30 pts.)

 

  1. We discussed and reviewed the importance of consistency and structure when creating meaningful lessons and handouts designed for understanding.  

A.      Describe a way you would use a semantic networking tool (i.e. Inspiration) to structure a lesson (5 pts.);

B.      Using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, create a template for the following:

·        A “Homework Handout” that reinforces information received in a lesson (5 pts);

·        A “Review Handout” that reinforces the prior knowledge needed to understand new information (5 pts);

·        An “Outline Handout” that can be used by the student to structure the learning process (5 pts.)

 

  1. From what you have experienced in class and observed on the suggested websites, how do you think you can apply the following in your classroom (either for classroom management or curriculum enhancement):  Paint, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Inspiration (5 pts. each).

 

  1. We have discussed the Integrated Thinking Model as a structure to create meaningful learning activities.  In your own words, discuss the three stages of this model and share how you can use this organization to infuse technology into your lessons. (15 pts.)