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Surviving in the One-Computer ClassroomTips for Using One Computer with 25 Students

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Here are some ideas for how to use a single computer to enhance the learning of a whole classroom.  Generally, the ideas listed first require very little knowledge of the computer.  Those listed last are perhaps better saved until you're quite comfortable with the computer.

• Use it for Yourself
• Use it as a Presentation Tool
• Do a Demonstration of Computer Skills
• Create a Learning Center
• Run Simulations
• Bring an Expert to your Class
• Start Student Collaborations
• Allow Self-directed work
• Take a Virtual Field Trip

Use the Computer for Yourself

First, you can put the computer to good use even if you don’t let your students touch it. You can use the computer as a tool in your own work. Use a word processor to prepare tests, a spreadsheet to keep grades, the Internet to find lesson plans. Use the Web or listservs to discuss issues with other teachers.

[To see the sort of resources available, visit http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/.]

As you use the computer for yourself, you also become more comfortable and skillful in computer use, preparing you for some of the other activities listed.

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Presentation Tool

Using presentation software like PowerPoint or HyperStudio, you can create more compelling visual aids for your lectures. Such presentations are a good place to begin using the computer with your class, since there is little chance of anything unexpected or unpleasant happening. 

Using CD-ROMs or the Internet, you can have interactive visuals which can follow students questions instead of your script.

[If you use Netscape Navigator, you can use a bookmark file as as a table of contents.  For example, our list of links for the one-computer classroom began as a Netscape Navigator bookmark file.]

Students can also use presentation software to support their presentations.

[Have students use PowerPoint or HyperStudio presentations during oral assessments.]

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Demonstration

If your class only gets lab access occasionally, why not demonstrate what they’ll be doing beforehand? The preparation will allow you to use lab time more efficiently.

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Learning Center

If you have learning centers set up, use your computer as one of them. You can use: content-specific software for simulations, tutorials and drill-and-practice; CD-ROMs or the Internet for research; a spreadsheet for calculations; and a word processor for preparing reports. You can create assignments on disk which the students must complete.  Or assign one student each day to take notes each day and put them on the computer, so that students who are absent can catch up.

With more experience, you can create computer-based learning modules, using HyperStudio, PowerPoint or an Internet browser.

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Simulations

You can use simulation software with the whole class, so that the group makes all the decisions. Use any of the simulation software intended for one user, like SimCity or SimEarth, or software which includes group activities, like the Decisions, Decisions series from Tom Snyder. Assign different roles to students: one could be the note taker, another the keyboarder, another a reference checker, another an observer.

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Bring an Expert to your Class

Use the computer as a mailbox for email projects. Many projects exist, for example, in which foreign language students correspond with native speakers of that language, or in which science students correspond with an expert in the area they’re studying.

[Visit www.iecc.org to see some of the possible for email links, and www.askanexpert.com to see some of the experts available.]

With a little more savvy, a fast connection to the Internet, and a video camera hooked up to your computer, you can use CUSeeMe or NetMeeting to set up a videoconference with an expert.

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Collaborations

Set up a database (you can use a spreadsheet program) that students collect information for, and enter whenever they have time. This could be as simple as a database of students, or a compilation of observations on the weather. When you use the data later, the students have some ownership. As an example, have students put information about the weather (precipitation, barometric pressure, wind speed) into a spreadsheet, and then graph the data to look for correlations, or use database tools to explore the relationships of different elements.

Have students keep a class journal on the computer.  Students who are absent can check the next day to see what they missed.

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Self-directed work

You can schedule each student for 20 or 30 minutes each week, then let each student decide how to use the time. Students could use the computer to research a current project, prepare a report, or do another activity tied to your curriculum. To ensure students are using the time well, create a computer journal, and have each student fill out a journal entry each time she or he uses a computer.

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Virtual Field Trip

Use the computer to allow your students to explore a remote location through pictures, sounds and video.  The number of CD-ROMs and Internet sites for virtual field trips is growing quickly.

[Visit www.tramline.com to take a look at some virtual field trips.]

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Last updated:  01/01/10