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Education Connection: Resource Review: Laptops and
Overhead Projector*
Teacher:
Barbara Creaser - Morning Multi-level ESL Class - Foothills Adult
& Continuing Education Connection, Torrington
Type of Resource:
Laptop computer from wireless lab and overhead projector
Description:
The laptop computers and an overhead projector
were excellent tools to introduce computer vocabulary and beginning
word processing skills. Every student had their own laptop which allowed
hands-on experience. The computer allowed the teacher to see, at a glance,
if the student understood and was able to carry out the directions
from single to multi-step directions. The overhead projector was an excellent
resource to demonstrate the lesson to a group.
How the laptops were used in class:
The laptop computer was used to teach beginning
computer vocabulary and word processing skills. The laptop was
used for dictation (teacher dictated sentence writing), student
composed sentence writing, and paragraph writing. Using the laptop
each student wrote up biographical information after orally telling
a class partner the information. The length of the student writing
varied from one paragraph up to a whole page. Each biographical
piece was printed out and put into a book entitled, All About
Us. Each student received a copy of the class book. Each student
read their piece to the group and answered student questions to
expand on the information written. Each student kept their copy
of All About Us as a memento and as a practice reference.
The things I like most about the laptops
are as follows:
What I liked best about this resource is
it helped make the ESL class more exciting and current; it kept student
interest high. Also, having to teach the word processing skills helped
me become more proficient using the computer. Having the laptop as a
teaching tool along with print materials gave me more options and variety
to select from in teaching. The student response was very positive.
The students were thrilled using "state of the art" computers and were
highly motivated in all computer lessons.
Limitations of the laptops and suggestions
to overcome shortcomings:
Some of the limitations using laptops have to do with
teaching time and space. Many students do not have keyboarding skills, and
I do not think teaching keyboarding is a good use of time in an ESL class.
I would suggest having a separate computer class teaching keyboarding skills
and perhaps the basic rudiments of word processing skills too. Then the students
could apply what they learned in a computer skills class to the ESL language skills class.
Also classes using the laptops need to be scheduled next to the computer
storage closet for convenient use. It is not realistic to expect the ESL teacher
(or the students) to transport the wireless cart and the boxes of peripherals from
one part of the school building to the other and then dismantle everything to haul
back to the storage facility. If classes cannot be scheduled next to the computer closet,
I would suggest hiring someone to transport the computers and set up for the student use,
and then the hiree could also transport the computers and peripherals back to the storage closet.
I need to mention that my class was able to move from another building to the computer
lab next to the computer storage closet, but I wanted to mention that if that adjacent
room had not been available, the above should be considered.
Comments:
Photographs of the students were also taken with a digital camera
to accompany the student biographical pages in our class book. I believe these
photographs enhanced student interest in the book. My suggestion is for ESL teachers
using computers to use digital cameras and receive professional development on
how to use the camera.
A protective "carrying case" for each computer taken home
would also be great to have.
*from Technology Implementation —
End-of-Year Report as of June
30, 2003, compiled
by Tony Sebastiano, Director
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