Establishing a Classroom Computer Learning Center K-5: Tips for Intermediate Users

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Collaboration & Communication Laptops are great for activities that involve collaboration and communication. The following activities explore ways to create collaborations and communications in your classroom.
Activity 1	Explore and design collaborative learning activities.

Activity 2	Using the following websites as starting points, evaluate three school-home communications. Compare and contrast the three communications. Teacher Tap: School Newsletters Teacher Tap: Online School Magazines and Newspapers • National Scholastic Press Contest Winners - 2005 • Paly Voice from Palo Alto High School Teacher Tap: Cool Classroom and Teacher Pages Teacher Tap: Cool School Websites Teacher Tap: Cool School Library Websites Teacher Tap: Cool Project and Center Pages Learn more at Evaluating Communications

Activity 3	Go to Teacher Generated Content and Student Generated Content. Create a list of topics and resources for students publications. Learn more at Planning Communications. Go to Babelfish Translation. Try it. Discuss discuss issues in language translation and the use of other languages in home communication.

Activity 4	Explore the options for Interdisciplinary Newsletters. Download your favorite. Then, (1) repurpose the template for your setting, (2) create a sample document for your students, or (3) write directions for use of the template. Template 1: Classroom Newsletter (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 2: Classroom Newsletter (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 3: Live from Ancient Rome (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 4: The Habitats of Birds (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 5: Then and Now (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 6: Mexico Mania! (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 7: Junior Park Rangers (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Template 8: Super Sweet Stuff from Us (Word .doc file) or (.pdf file) or (Mac .doc) Try ReadWriteThink Printing Press for simple newsletters.

Activity 5	Go to Lessons and Activities that incorporate the production of newsletters as a student project. Select a lesson or WebQuest that you think might be useful. Using Microsoft Word, adapt the assignment to fit the needs of your classroom. Go to Student Assessment. Examine rubrics for evaluating students newsletter projects. Learn more at Managing Communications. Go to Resources and Tools. Explore resources for use in projects. Learn more at Producing Communications.

Activity 6	Go to Discovery Channel Quiz Center, Survey Builder from CHNM or another survey builder. Create a survey for parents.

Activity 7	Establish and implement a laptop learning atmosphere in the classroom.

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Collaboration & Communication