Every classroom teacher's dream is to provide a full functioning computer for each student. As teachers continuously face this challenge, there are educators all over the world who have developed multiple ways to become productive despite the limited resources. This session will demonstrate varied classroom strategies, activities, and ideas that will help address classroom situations with limited technology resources.

The One Computer Classroom

Your Task. To gather and use the information on the One Computer Classroom to develop student learning.

• Brainstorm on what "One Computer Classroom" means.
• Share your ideas with the whole group.
• Break into groups according to Elementary, Middle School, and High School.
• Go to netTrekker, EBSCO, or Internet4Classroom to research about "One Computer Classroom"
• Choose 1 - 2 articles to explore.
  
• Provide examples on what you have discovered about the One Computer Classroom.
• Address the following questions and post your group's ideas in the ETA forum.
  • "How can you integrate technology into your classroom if you only have one or two computers?"
  • "How will you incorporate these concepts into teaching and learning in your classroom?"
• Share your findings with the whole class.

EBSCO. Follow these guidelines to use the EBSCO database:

• Click here to get to EBSCO.
• Login with your Campus username and password. Go to District Resources Help or ask a trainer for password.
• Click EBSCOHost.
• Scroll all the way down until you see Academic Search Complete.
• Type "One Computer Classroom" in the Find field.
• Click Search. 

Managing Your One Computer Classroom 

Instructional Partner. If you are faced with a one computer classroom, you can use your computer as an instructional partner. Since classroom time is very valuable, a computer can become a great asset when used efficiently and effectively. Aside from the usual administrative work such as entering grades and checking attendance, a computer can be used to:

• create a virtual classroom;
  
• show instructional web videos (i.e. UnitedStreaming);
  
• demonstrate a lesson (i.e. Math interactive site) in a whole class approach;
  
• engage students in an online lesson (i.e. health and fitness through an activity calorie calculator);
  
• learn and develop addtional technology skills and explore contributions by educators on professional development; and
• provide students with web based stories (i.e. Language Arts Aesop's Fables), etc.
  

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators

Diagnosing and Treating Technology Phobias in Your School (PDF File)

Teacher Evaluation of Web Sites (PDF File)

The 5W's of Web Site Evaluation (PDF File)

That's Not a Drinking Fountain or How to Survive in a one Computer Classroom

Why Use Color?  

Presentation Guidelines. Episode 1. Episode 2. Episode 3. 

Learning Centers. Using the constructivist approach can help increase the potential of a one computer classroom. This can be done by establishing and using learning centers as part of your class instruction. Here are essential elements that make up a typical learning center:

• Take a unit from the scope and sequence and create a lesson/activity;
  
• Divide students into groups and assign specific roles for students in each group;
• Plan specific instructions on how to approach the lesson/activity; and
• Combine computer-based learning modules.

Managing Your Classroom Computer Center

Tools for Change 

Trackstar 

Creating an Interactive Assignment Page 

Online Tools for Classroom Use

Class Collaborative Partner. Computers can become great collaborative partners by grouping students based on the lesson/activity for the day. Here are some interesting ways to maximize the use of your computer:

• Create a database that contains information from conducted observations and experiments. As each group perform specific roles, students can work collaboratively and put together the gathered information;
• Finalize findings by creating online journals in the form of a blog which you can create in your SchoolCenter website;
  
• Post questions related to the lesson/activity through a forum which you can create in your SchoolCenter website;
• Conduct a class survey which you can create in your SchoolCenter website utlizing the Create a Custom Form page; and
  
• Conduct a research where students work independently by following the instructions posted in your SchoolCenter website, etc.
  

Virtual Trip Tour Guide. Use the computer for students to explore a remote location through pictures, sounds, and video. Today, there are many virtual museums that you can access from different well-known museums all over the country and even the world!

Elementary. History Wired: A view of our favorite things.

Middle School. Virtual Instrument Museum

High School. Virtual Exhibits from the Virtual Museum of Canada

Student Research Assistant. As you assign students with their respective tasks, one of the most common roles involves research. In order for the computer to work successfully as a student's research assistant, providing guiding questions will develop a greater impact on students to stay on task and not deviate to other websites. 

The Big6 Research Model

Creative Publishing 

The Research Cycle

91 Ways to Respond to Literature 

A+ Research & Writing Step by Step 

Resources. Below are a few of the many resources used in gathering information for this session. 

Strategies for Teachers - One Computer Classroom
The One Computer Classroom

Managing ICT Integration in the One Computer Classroom

Technology Management Strategies

One Computer Classroom