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

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Establishing Computer-enhanced Classrooms Complete the activities below to learn about establishing computer learning centers in your classroom.
Activities
Activity 1	Journal with Word Copy the robot above and paste it into Microsoft Word. Copy and paste this URL into Microsoft Word. Write your thoughts. -- How do you feel about computers in the classroom? Fun, frustration, or both?

Activity 2	Explore a Child's World Examine each of the following websites: Scholastic Kids PBS Kids Noggin NickJr. Nick Disney Yahooligans What do all of these sites have in common? What is appealing about these websites? Why will students go to these sites over and over again outside school? What's the big draw?

Activity 3	Establish Learning Centers Brainstorm ideas for setting up learning experiences. Assess your needs and pre-plan for technology integration. What scheduling and management charts & techniques have worked well in the past? What scaffolding do students need? reception, transformation, production? Scholastic Graphic Organizers ThinkPort Graphic Organizers Eduplace Graphic Organizers What tools and resources complement computer use? What will you try this year? Create a "to do" list.

Activity 4	Plan for Website Use Explore popular children's websites. Develop a systematic way for students to address a standard using one of the website activities. Create a web worksheet in Word. Or, create a unit Web Pathfinder. BBC Schools - General BBC Science Clips BBC Island Life Ology: Marine Biology Enchanted Learning Literacy Centers Scholastic: Young Children Scholastic: Ocean Life Scholastic: Dinos Scholastic: War Scholastic: Poetry Dinosphere EdHead Simple Machines

Activity 5	Build Web-Bits Go to Web-Bits and evaluate some examples by teachers and students. Do they address specific standards? Are the questions high or low level? Build your own Web-Bits. Be sure to use high-level questions. Use the Focus on High-Level Thinking handout for help.

Activity 6	Blend On and Off Computer Activities Explore the following sites. Consider how you would blend on- and off- computer activities. Edmark Software Scholastic: Civil War Scholastic News Scholastic: Max Math Yahooligans News Yuckiest Site BBC School BBC School Bones Spiders from the Southwest Educational Development Lab Spiders for Kids from 2nd Grade Class Diary of a Spider by Doreen Dronin Ben's Guide Ology MOMA - Modern Art MOMA - Sart Safari Scholastic Global Trek How would you arrange and manage the activities?
Activity 7	Explore and Create Quests Explore WebQuests. WebQuest Evaluation and Use - Favorites K-3 WebQuest Links K-3 Literature-based WebQuests 3-6 WebQuest Links 3-6 Literature-based WebQuests Create a MiniQuest or use the Rs of Research.
Eduscapes \| Experiences Home \| Workshop Home \| Establishing \| Creating \| Created by Annette Lamb, 6/05. Updated 7/05.

Establishing Computer-enhanced Classrooms

Activities