Katie: Laptops and Webcams and SMART Boards – Oh My!

I remember being in grade school and getting that coveted computer time. Twenty minutes to sit in front of a big, bulky, black-and-white screened machine that was noisy and slow. We would play Oregon Trail, using the keyboard to move our digitized covered wagon (or at least that’s what it was supposed to look like) across the screen. I was enthralled by this technology and loved when I earned the time to use it.

My, how times have changed! Young children are now surrounded by technology, and they know how to use it. Gaming systems, MP3 Players, CD players, computers—and how many kids do you see walking around with cell phones?! Meanwhile, I fondly remember my own cassette tape player and thought I was so cool in eighth grade with my pager.

My preschoolers are able to manage this technology with ease, even upon their first introduction to it. This was evident last week when we brought in a digital camera and laptop with a webcam for the kiddos to use (I know, what were we thinking?). The children did remarkably well—right away they picked up on how to aim the camera while looking at the screen and push the button to snap a shot of a friend. (I wouldn’t say they will be having a gallery showing anytime soon, but some people might see free expression in the heads chopped off of every picture.)

Needless to say, the laptop and webcam were a huge success! We first had a student teacher read a story via Skype while the kids ate snacks. Their attention spans were remarkable; they watched attentively and commented on the story as she read. We then allowed the kids to play with the laptop and webcam features. They loved watching themselves make funny faces on the computer screen and using the mouse to select a variety of special settings that warped their faces or put silly wigs on their heads. Their use of these technologies was nothing less than impressive. I’m always taken aback by the way such young kids can manipulate a mouse—they can’t cut with scissors, but they can eye-hand coordinate and fine/gross motor plan to make the exact move that they want with a computer.

I shouldn’t be so surprised by these children and their technology abilities. We use a SMART Board with them a few times a week, and it’s not only one of their favorite activities, but they also pick up on the tasks very quickly. The resulting behaviors we see in our students with ASD are, for lack of a better word, awesome! They are more engaged, they respond to our questions, and they genuinely seem to enjoy what they are learning.

For one of my grad school classes, I created an online presentation to show how and why we use the SMART Board in our preschool classroom. At the end are some great videos of one of our children with ASD participating in SMART Board lessons. This child has limited language and a short attention span and often gives us minimal eye contact, but you wouldn’t know that from the videos.

Please watch, enjoy, and think of how you may be able to use technology in your classroom, even with students you never thought would “get it.”

http://www.screenca st.com/t/lvsrGczZ3 

Comments

[Rashed Alqahtani]

Hi
In one hand, some studies indicate the negative impact of technology on students' opportunities to possess academic skills such as calculation. on the other hand, using technology proven to be useful tool used to motivate students' learn. In fact, it makes learning more enjoyable. Actually, I think the negative or positive effects all depends on how we use technology.

[Turki Alzahraney]

Katie, I agree with you that students today are surrounded by technology and have a great grasp of using it. I am currently working as a student teacher. The resource room which I am working in most of the school day includes various instructional and technological tools that assist both teachers and students. These tools can be used to enhance the learning outcomes of students. These technological aides include tape recorders, an overhead projector, a smart board, CD players, and two classroom computers. Each student in the school has an iPad to use during the lessons. The school’s mission, which is to utilize emerging technology and 21st Century skills, is important to address the full range of knowledge and competencies students need to excel in a global society. The use of 21st Century technology falls in line with classroom pedagogy and differentiated instruction for those students with IEPs. From my limited experience working in this school, I found the following three advantages of using technology with students with disabilities: iPads present students with tasks that interest and engage them, using iPads make individual attention possible, and finally iPads give students greater control over their learning and encourage more risk-taking.

[Cora Bullock]

Hehehe. Pagers were the coolest thing back in my time as well. Kids today are, indeed, very lucky. Laptops and phones were like space age dreams then. LOL.

[Heather Lewis]

Katie, I agree with you that students today have a great grasp on technology. I teach in a severe profound classroom in Norcross, Georgia. I also have a Smartboard in my classroom, I do not have Boardmaker Plus though. I am always trying to find new and creative ways to incorporate my student’s goals and objectives with the Smartboard. My students are extremely engaged when we use the Smartboard, I just don’t know how to incorporate it all the time in the classroom. While I might not teach preschool level students, my students are functioning at or bellow average preschoolers. Therefore, some of the simple activities that Alex was doing in the video would work great for some of my higher functioning students. Thanks for the great ideas.

[Gwen]

Awesome video! I never knew that this type of technology was being used in so many schools. It appears to really excite these young people and we must keep up with the changing trends in education in order to stay relevant to our students. I really enjoyed your video and presentation. Keep up the good work!

[Valerie]

Katie, I to find myself stunned by what young people have been able to do with the computer. I have a child with fine motor delay and like you see that he could not hold a pencil to write his name but given a mouse he was able to point and click on anything on the screen. Great job with the kids you are working with I hope to watch more of your videos since they are very helpful learning tools for me as I work toward my masters in special education.

[Andrea]

Katie - thanks! We're upgrading to BM+ this month, and I'm really excited about the interactive features! SMART Notebook is good, but I am sure this will be better!

[Mary Frances Freeman]

Katie-

The video was great! I have recently returned to college to get my license in special education. I graduated with my undergraduate degree in 2003. Times have changed!! I am taking a technology class right now and feel like I am so far behind. I didn't realize how much technology is now used in the classroom itself! I am slowly learning but seeing the Smart Board in action was great!

Are there other devices or programs that you find helpful? I would like to learn as much as possible about different programs so that once I am in the classroom full time I have an idea of what I am doing!!

Thanks for the help!!

[Katie]

Andrea- we used Boardmaker Plus, we tend to use that most of all; however, I believe the SMART Notebook program that comes with SMARTboards have many of the same features. The Boardmaker Plus program allows us to make interactive boards (regular Boardmaker doesn't do this). We just videotaped (using a digital camera) the teacher writing the letters then embedded it into the board. Kids love the video modeling we use! Hope that helps!

[Andrea]

The video was great! Can I ask what program you used to create the tracing letters when the student was writing his name on the SMART Board?