Teachers can use netbooks in several innovative and engaging ways in the classrooms. Some of my suggestions on how teachers should use netbooks in the classoom:
1.) Activities: Make students do research on a particular topic using netbooks and then present it to the class at the end of the period
2.) Quizzes: Teachers can post quizzes online and students can answer them using the netbooks
3.) Lessons: Webtools such as Prezi, Jing and Diigo can be used to integrate technology into lessons for the class.
I would firstly suggest to any teacher using these netbooks is to be carefull! Netbooks, like all computers can break if treated improperly so taking the appropriate percautions is necessary. I would also suggest using programs such as diigo, and prezi as they are both usefull web tools which if utilized properly, can become very effective.
The specific uses for the netbooks can vary depending on what class its being used for. But my general recommendation would be to use the netbooks in a way that is complementary to the lesson. They should NOT rely on the netbooks too much to 'carry' the lesson. For the most part, students see laptops as toys, and will be quick to exploit the use of the netbooks. The goal of the teachers is not to deter from their usual ways of teaching lesson, but to find a way to incorporate the netbooks into the classroom.
Using the netbooks does not make lesson planning easier. Teachers should not view the netbooks as tools that reduce the work they must put into each lesson. (This was very common when teachers first began using smartboards). The netbooks have the potential to enhance learning, but only if a considerable effort is made by the teacher.
Recap: If you use the netbooks as learning tools (try to avoid being 'shell-shoked' by the technology) , students will be less inclined to fool around.
Teachers should take a look at the net books and see what they are capable of. From there, they should look at how they assign work in their classes and identify what would be easier if students had a computer to use. Once they are comfortable with a program, they will be able to explain how the students can enhance their understanding of a particular subject with the addition of technology. The most important thing for a teacher to do if they want to add technology to their classes would be to become comfortable with technology and understand what they are doing enough to help students that have trouble.
From the perspective of a grade 12 student, I think that life would have been easier if we had been introduced to Google docs from the beginning. Google docs is amazing because it prevents lack of communications between groups in group projects, reduces the amount of students forgetting work at home and losing documents with the loss of a usb key or tech issues at home.
The netbooks should be used in various scenarios :
Submitting in-class assignments or any other assignments- Students should be able to complete their research on their netbooks and hand it in to the teacher electronically.
Lectures: Teachers could use Prezi or start a Google Doc to lead a discussion in the class.
Working with current software: Working with current software requires more CPU usage and thus would be beneficial for students to use netbooks, which in contrast are more powerful than school computers
Or any other LAN activity (i.e. Quiz) that the teacher would organize that would be require all students to have a computer.
I would suggest teachers to use programs such as Google doc, diigo and Prezi when using these netbooks.
Google Doc promotes more group work when working on assignments as well as it allows students to simultaneously edit their work. Also Google Doc has many functions such as spreadsheet and Forms where teachers can make online quizes or class assignments for students to answer.
Diigo is an excellent research tool which can help students research points they need for projects and research assignments. By using Diigo students will not lose the position or website they were using for their project and thus makes it simpler to write their bibliography.
Prezi is an excellent presentation tool. Unlike the old fashion Powerpoint, Prezi is very eye appealing and takes away the static powerpoint image. Prezi will possibly make presentation much more entertaining to watch.
The netbooks should be used for presentations. Students can finish their work on their netbooks and then upload it to the network folder and present their work from the smartbook computer.
Another use for the netbooks are to upgrade the programs that would be glitchy on the normal computers. For example, the Google Earth on the class computers do not always save your own landform but the version on the netbooks saves perfectly.
Teachers can use netbooks for their students to research, type up assignments, taking notes, tests/quizzes, and presentations.This will allow some students to do work more efficiently and benefit from using netbooks. The teachers should learn how to use the netbooks before letting the students use the netbooks so they know what to do when there's a problem.
Firstly, I believe that netbooks are most effective when teachers use them for in class research periods or for a specific activity they have in mind. Its great for research because the computers are a lot faster then the school computers and would allow students to get more work done during the period. Also students would be doing the research under the supervision of the teacher who would be able to give the advice they would be unable to give them if they were doing the research at home.
Also if the teacher has a specific acticity in mind then that would give the class I chance to expericence hands on learning which is always incredibly useful. For example, instead of the teacher showing gadget on a projector or smart board, each student could play with the gadget on their own allowing them to explore and discover the concept at their own pace.
The most important thing teachers should consider is the capability of the netbooks. Ultimately, they're not that powerful. It takes more time to do things on them than it does on an average home computer. Planning out class time is very important. If students are just given a free period to do whatever, chances are they won't do too much (youtube and games come to mind). Students should have goals to meet each class, and they should be marked on how they meet these goals. However, the goals should be reasonable. Teachers should add 10-15 minutes on top of the time they estimate the work will take to complete to account for log-on times, internet connection problems, weaker processors and videocards, etc.
The netbooks are great for research and presentations, as well as teaching students how to use web 2.0 tools. Even if for only one class, if students are given a chance to explore tools like Diigo, Prezi, and Google Docs, they'll be able to take the knowledge home and use these tools in the future.
In order for a class to benefit from the use of netbooks, a few things must be kept in mind.
One of these things include knowing the difference between a teacher and netbooks. Netbooks cannot replace the job of teachers. In order for the use of netbooks to be beneficial, netbooks must be treated as tool rather than a teacher. Lessons can be enhanced and clarified using netbook technology but the role of the teacher is vital.
Another one of these things include careful use of netbook technology. The netbooks that our school has are not rugged, shockproof, or water resistant. So to speak, students and teachers shall not drop the netbooks or spill liquids on the delicate netbooks. In order for the netbooks to enhance technology, they must be functional and to be functional they must be taken care of.
Netbooks provide great enhancement as technology to a classroom but they are only useful if used correctly.
I think the netbooks should be used with the webtools because the majority of the webtools we looked into can be used at home as well. As stated in my enriching blog post, diigo is really useful because you can do in-class group project/ assignments, as well as work on it at home.
When we were interviewing students for our survey group, most of the students answered that they would use netbooks for researches and wordprocesses. So, based on these surveys I would suggest:
1.) in class researches taking notes, google docs disscussions on topics. 2.) Wordprocesses 3.)Web tools for presentations
I would suggest that teachers truly understand the netbooks before bringing them in to classrooms. They are great teaching tools for teachers and could be used in in almost every aspect of the classroom. They could be used for Quizzes, research, class discussions and more.
Some great web tools that the netbooks offer are Diigo, Google docs, Jing, Voicethread and Prezi. These programs all specialize in different areas and provide a unique experience for the students. Programs such as Diigo allow student to highlight and book mark internet pages, which can be saved and accessed in future dates. All of these programs would be a great addition to the classroom and provide a new and interactive way of learning and presenting!
The netbooks can be used to store materials online. For example, you can use the website Dropbox and the netbooks together to store any school materials you need online, and the students will be able to access them from each netbook separately.
Using this technique, the teacher can also have class discussions about a topic where different groups of students would read different articles online.
One of the greatest aspects of the netbooks is their versatility. Each student can be reading a different article and be contributing a different point of view to the class discussion.
The netbooks are very useful in helping students understand material. Some students have trouble dealing with numbers and other things of that sort. If they had something physical they could grasp, for hands-on learners for examples, they could better understand what is being taught in class.
Students could also expand their creative thinking. Instead of one text for every student, the teacher could give them some leeway in picking a text on the topic. This would help students learn to make decisions that are appropriate for certain situations.
I think that Diigo is probably the most useful tool that the students can use. on the netbooks. Many students have bad handwriting or hate writing rough notes. This way, not only are the points they highlight for research legible, but they are al organized and there is no way to lose the research, a big problem when dealing with rough notes.
started by Ms Cuttle on 18 Nov 10
1.) Activities: Make students do research on a particular topic using netbooks and then present it to the class at the end of the period
2.) Quizzes: Teachers can post quizzes online and students can answer them using the netbooks
3.) Lessons: Webtools such as Prezi, Jing and Diigo can be used to integrate technology into lessons for the class.
Using the netbooks does not make lesson planning easier. Teachers should not view the netbooks as tools that reduce the work they must put into each lesson. (This was very common when teachers first began using smartboards). The netbooks have the potential to enhance learning, but only if a considerable effort is made by the teacher.
Recap: If you use the netbooks as learning tools (try to avoid being 'shell-shoked' by the technology) , students will be less inclined to fool around.
The most important thing for a teacher to do if they want to add technology to their classes would be to become comfortable with technology and understand what they are doing enough to help students that have trouble.
From the perspective of a grade 12 student, I think that life would have been easier if we had been introduced to Google docs from the beginning. Google docs is amazing because it prevents lack of communications between groups in group projects, reduces the amount of students forgetting work at home and losing documents with the loss of a usb key or tech issues at home.
Submitting in-class assignments or any other assignments- Students should be able to complete their research on their netbooks and hand it in to the teacher electronically.
Lectures: Teachers could use Prezi or start a Google Doc to lead a discussion in the class.
Working with current software: Working with current software requires more CPU usage and thus would be beneficial for students to use netbooks, which in contrast are more powerful than school computers
Or any other LAN activity (i.e. Quiz) that the teacher would organize that would be require all students to have a computer.
Google Doc promotes more group work when working on assignments as well as it allows students to simultaneously edit their work. Also Google Doc has many functions such as spreadsheet and Forms where teachers can make online quizes or class assignments for students to answer.
Diigo is an excellent research tool which can help students research points they need for projects and research assignments. By using Diigo students will not lose the position or website they were using for their project and thus makes it simpler to write their bibliography.
Prezi is an excellent presentation tool. Unlike the old fashion Powerpoint, Prezi is very eye appealing and takes away the static powerpoint image. Prezi will possibly make presentation much more entertaining to watch.
Another use for the netbooks are to upgrade the programs that would be glitchy on the normal computers. For example, the Google Earth on the class computers do not always save your own landform but the version on the netbooks saves perfectly.
Also if the teacher has a specific acticity in mind then that would give the class I chance to expericence hands on learning which is always incredibly useful. For example, instead of the teacher showing gadget on a projector or smart board, each student could play with the gadget on their own allowing them to explore and discover the concept at their own pace.
The netbooks are great for research and presentations, as well as teaching students how to use web 2.0 tools. Even if for only one class, if students are given a chance to explore tools like Diigo, Prezi, and Google Docs, they'll be able to take the knowledge home and use these tools in the future.
One of these things include knowing the difference between a teacher and netbooks.
Netbooks cannot replace the job of teachers. In order for the use of netbooks to be beneficial, netbooks must be treated as tool rather than a teacher. Lessons can be enhanced and clarified using netbook technology but the role of the teacher is vital.
Another one of these things include careful use of netbook technology. The netbooks that our school has are not rugged, shockproof, or water resistant.
So to speak, students and teachers shall not drop the netbooks or spill liquids on the delicate netbooks.
In order for the netbooks to enhance technology, they must be functional and to be functional they must be taken care of.
Netbooks provide great enhancement as technology to a classroom but they are only useful if used correctly.
1.) in class researches taking notes, google docs disscussions on topics.
2.) Wordprocesses
3.)Web tools for presentations
Some great web tools that the netbooks offer are Diigo, Google docs, Jing, Voicethread and Prezi. These programs all specialize in different areas and provide a unique experience for the students. Programs such as Diigo allow student to highlight and book mark internet pages, which can be saved and accessed in future dates. All of these programs would be a great addition to the classroom and provide a new and interactive way of learning and presenting!
Using this technique, the teacher can also have class discussions about a topic where different groups of students would read different articles online.
One of the greatest aspects of the netbooks is their versatility. Each student can be reading a different article and be contributing a different point of view to the class discussion.
The netbooks are a very useful resource.
Students could also expand their creative thinking. Instead of one text for every student, the teacher could give them some leeway in picking a text on the topic. This would help students learn to make decisions that are appropriate for certain situations.
I think that Diigo is probably the most useful tool that the students can use. on the netbooks. Many students have bad handwriting or hate writing rough notes. This way, not only are the points they highlight for research legible, but they are al organized and there is no way to lose the research, a big problem when dealing with rough notes.