Article Review #1: Meaningful Connections Using Technology in Primary Classrooms

DePasquale, R., McNamara, E. & Murphy, K.L. (November 2003). Meaningful

            Connections Using Technology in Primary Classrooms. Beyond the Journal;
            p.1-9.

Summary:

The article Meaningful Connections Using Technology in Primary Classrooms focuses on two case studies of teachers who utilized technology within the classroom at the beginning of the technology-in-the-classroom era (2003!).

            The first teacher, Erin McNamara, was a second grade teacher in Mary E. Finn Elementary School in Massachusetts. She utilized the digital camera with a kid friendly authoring tool to create a classroom website during a unit on the bee life cycle.  During the unit the teacher took digital pictures of activities that were happening in the classroom.  She then provided her students with the pictures she had taken from the classroom, each student was required to say who was in the picture, what was happening, and a personal feeling or thought about what was happening.  The digital pictures and explanations were then compiled into a classroom website to highlight the people and activities within the classroom. This activity helped the students become more engaged with the content/activity rather than simply reading material.

            The second teacher, Rosie DePasquale, was a first grade teacher at East Ethel Little School in Massachusetts. She utilized computers during her plant unit to create digital images that allowed students to interact with the concepts/material in the classroom.  The students had to use the computers to create a concept web about plants, research information about plants through websites, draw and label plants, and finally create a presentation about what was learned during the unit.  These activities helped the children become more responsible for their own learning and kept them engaged throughout the unit.

            Each teacher utilized cutting-edge technologies at the time. Both classrooms used word processing tools, like WriteOn; computer art programs, such as Kid Pix; presentation software, like HyperStudio; research tools, like TrackStar; and concept mapping software, including Kidspiration.

Reflection:

            Although the technology used in these classrooms might not be the most cutting edge technology out there, it is still very effective in getting students more involved in meaningful learning in the classroom. 

The technology used helped the students to remember the material that was learned throughout the units.  Digital imagery benefits visual learners in the classroom.  It is true what they say, a picture says a thousand words.  Using the pictures from the unit to help the students remember the content is a great way to use technology in the classroom.