Ready Set Explore!
This weeks assignment our professor gave us a simple “real life” scenario. The scenario was that we were teachers who had to pick one new software program to go onto the one computer our classroom had. He gave us three different websites to find the programs and then decide if our computer could support the new software. I found this scenario to be something that I will most likely have to encounter when I become a teacher. I went to http://www.k12software.com/ and since I want to teach social studies, I found a cool program called 50 Quick & Easy Social Studies Computer Activities K-8th, this program had everything that I felt would be useful in daily lessons. What interested me was that it had both online and offline activities, from what I gather from reading several blogs, some schools don’t have a strong enough band width and place restrictions on how long a class and be online. With this program you have the option of doing offline activities, both on Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. By using these programs to run some of the software activities my students can get familiar with them and feel confident when using Microsoft Office for future assignments.
In order to use this program I had to find out if my computer could handle any new incoming software. The system requirements were Windows: 4 MB RAM, Windows 95/98, and for Macs 4 MB RAM, System 7 or higher. I had checked to see if my computer had enough RAM and it did. My computer uses Windows XP, and has 2GB RAM, more than enough space to use it. Also since the software uses Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, I checked and I had Microsoft office 2003. The software program I wanted didn’t say anything about a video card or screen resolution but my school and home computer has a screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels, and a standard video card.
Before letting my school know which software I wanted to check to see if I could run this program with my home computer. I read in our text book this week that your school computer should be comparable with your home computer as far as software is concerned. That way you can read and check out lessons prior to doing them in the classroom, saving you time in the future. (Gunter, 2010, 253) I felt that I knew enough about this software program that my computer would be compatible with it and no errors will occur.
I found this assignment to be somewhat challenging, first I had to figure out how to find what my computer had and compare it to what the software required. The only thing I could not figure out how to find was the video card. I know it’s on here just couldn’t figure out where! I am somewhat familiar with how a computer works but my confidence is not there yet to say I know everything, because I don’t. In reading the text book this week, I felt I could easily tell you the difference in input and output devices now. I enjoyed reading the buyers guide section in the book and what you should look for. I am looking to get a Mac and so I found this to be interesting, making sure that what you buy meets all your needs.
If anyone is teaching social studies K-8th grade check out this software program it has a little bit of everything. http://www.k12software.com/view_details.php?PHPSESSID=083e5364014d1067aba9d91b50a9c94f&ID=3812
Reference:
Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, 6th Ed., Shelly, Cashman, Gunter, and Gunter. Course Technology - Thompson Publishing (2010), 253.
I didn't realize there was a common issue with band width that resulted in some schools limiting online class time. That would be a difficult thing to work around if you wanted to use a program that requires lengthy online sessions. That is something I will definitely have to consider when I start teaching.
ReplyDeleteThe buyer's guide is something that I wish I had the last couple of times I have purchased laptops. With my most recent one I had no idea if what I was getting would be a major upgrade. I just knew it was a Toshiba, which I'd heard was a good brand, and it was on sale! I definitely feel more prepared after reading this chapter to go on my next computer purchasing adventure, which I hope will not be for many years! But now I feel like I have a better understanding of the inner-workings of computers and all the acronyms involved. I used to toss around words like RAM as if I really knew what they meant, but now I do.
I had read some other posts about bandwidth and in those cases, schools were having problems with students using laptops which stressed the bandwidth limit. I'm not sure how that all works, but it sure is something that schools need to consider with only continued increase in using the Internet in schools.
ReplyDeleteThe program I had chosen also did not mention anything about video card which concerned me for a while. Then I was able to determine that my standard card was good enough. I found it funny that because I really had not done anything like this before, I wanted to match every item mentioned from the software to my computer.
I found your comment about the software being compatible with your home computer very important. You make a great point in terms of being able to really check it out and be familiar with it (work out any issues) before you're in the classroom.
My school has problems with the Bandwidth at times. You would just need to check with the school to be sure that using it on that day will not interferer with something. Like online test :-)
ReplyDeleteAnother program I liked was GPS American History (or social studies) It seemed really cool but no one had reviews yet. I am going to look into your program as it sounds like it would be very useful!
I think this sounds like a great programs since it offers options online and offline. It is great that with the purchase you will also get access to their online resources which students could then use when doing different assignments are projects. I have never really thought about the bandwidth with in my school but I guess at times it has been an issue the many net books we have running all the time, although I don't recall it ever being too much of an issue or something that wasn't fixed by the next day. Do you feel that with "only one classroom computer" that students would be adequate use out of such a program? It sounds like each student would have to spend more that just a few minutes to really be able to use it. I do like that the program comes with labs (depending on which package you purchased). I think labs are very important and can help make social studies more interesting for those of us that get so lost in the dates and events. Creating a visual time-line would be a great tool to help students visually and chronologically remember historical events.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way that you spelled out the scene to your audience. Although, it is rare that the teacher’s get the sole responsibility to choose software for the classroom. This seems to be left up to the tech at the school that may never have even been a teacher, or knows what the current academic requirements are for each grade and subject. Mostly things are done in a committee or the administrator does the shopping, I mean it is their budget. I do think the software fits the need you have for Social Studies. As I teach Language Arts I chose a program that focused and seemed to extend the benchmarks that I am required to cover in the classroom. The aspect of both online and off line sections was a great idea, as I spent most of my time trying to figure out how 65 students, 3 periods of 5th graders, were going to successfully utilize a single software program.
ReplyDeleteAs I went through the endless list of software, it seems that most computers from the past decade could handle it. A matter of fact I think that most programs were even for a minimum of an XP operating system. Since most people run a computer with a Vista or Windows 7 system, that operating system alone requires a certain level of hardware that dwarfs most requirements of the software used for education. The key points I think you hit were the video aspect and memory. I would have also looked at the hard disk space requirement, which may not be huge, but is important.
I too felt this was a challenge, not only to figure out what components would work with which programs but the problem itself. What could I do to fully utilize a program when my hardware/workspaces are limited? I think the overwhelming amount of choices was also difficult to process, but the idea you had to use a program with an online and an offline part was a great solution. In closing the challenge to satisfy all aspects of the scenario were a challenge, especially how to choose just one, but often this is what administrators must do in order to run a successful school.