The Vicksburg / Warren School District is one of the most technologically enhanced school districts in the area. Most classrooms have multiple computers for use by the students.
There are multimedia TVs, cameras, projectors, VCRs, and DVD players for use by the teachers. Several teachers have their personal equipment that stays in their classroom, such as a TV and VCR.
Mrs. Gordon's 2nd Grade Class
There are two computers in Mrs. Gordon's classroom. They are used by both the teachers and the students. The students use the computers for the Accelerated Reader Program. Once they have read a book, they take a quiz on the computer. It is self-grading and gives them a report, which they print out and put in their Accelerated Reader folder.
Mrs. Campbell's 4th Grade Class
There are three computers in Mrs. Campbell's classroom. They are used by both the teachers and the students. The students use the computers mostly for enrichment exercises in this class, but use the computers in other classrooms for the Accelerated Reading Program. Mrs. Campbell uses an overhead projector to teach the math lesson. This approach works extremely well for me since I am in a wheelchair.
I would like to make more use of the computer in the classroom. I'm lucky enough to have a nice laptop computer and also an additional desktop P.C. that I will be able to take with me wherever I go to teach. I would like to use more PowerPoint and similar programs for several reasons. First, if I am still in a wheelchair it will be easier for me. Second, I can prepare the lesson ahead of time and not have to write it on the board as I teach. Third, I think the students will find a different approach more interesting.
I also want the students to use the computers for research. Even in the lower elementary grades they can begin to look (with supervision) for things related to their lessons. I would let this be a "center" with a list of research topics each week.
