Cooperative learning with AlphaSmarts

Technology Level Needed: Introductory/Intermediate

 

Subject: Science, Ocean Ecology

Standard/Benchmark:2.EKnows that animals and plants in a given environment survive with varying levels of success. (3b)

 

Objectives:

1. Given information from web pages about Seahorse habitat, students will work in groups of three to outline a plan to protect the species. 

 

2. Using Inspiration on a presenter, the teacher will facilitate a collective brainstorm to create a master plan for protecting the Seahorse. 

 

3.Following a discussion, students will individually write a paragraph about protecting this species.

 

Materials needed:

Class set of AlphaSmarts

AlphaSmart Manager

Teacher computer with Web connection

Presenter

Inspiration or Kidspiration

Xerox Printer

 

Evaluation: Printed Notes, oral reporting by groups, printed mini report by all students.

 

Procedure

Prep:

1. Teacher will locate Internet information about protecting Seahorses.  She will copy and paste the text into the Alpha Manager in files 7 and 8 and run the manager to program all AlphaSmarts.

2. Students will be assigned groups of three.  Two students will be researchers. One will be the recorder.

Lesson:

Session 1:

1. One researcher will read File 7 and the other File 8.  They will provide (taking turns) information about Seahorse protection to the recorder who will type the notes in the assigned class file.  Completed work will be printed with the AlphaSmart printer.

 

If done early, students will proceed with keyboarding exercises using the Keyword AlphaSmart applet.

 

2. The teacher launches Inspiration on the presenter.  Using the "rapid fire" feature, she queries each group for an item that protects sea horses.  She builds a master brainstorm list.  Each idea is only used once.  Subtopics are added if needed.

 

3. When done, the teacher prints a class set of the brainstorm to the Xerox.  The print job can be verified by phone and retrieved immediately or picked up later in the day.  Brainstorms are given to each student.

 

Session 2:

1. Students, using the brainstorms, write a mini report and spell check, using the AlphaSmart Keyboards.

2. As students complete their drafts, they report to an aid or parent with their AlphaSmarts who provides suggestions to improve the writing. The student makes the changes.

3.

Option A (Intermediate level style)

When a student has completed his work, he beams his text into the computer and makes his formatting adjustments.  He saves his work in the student network folder.

After school, the teacher, working at her computer, pulls up the work from the server and assigns a grade with comments on the work. Grades are recorded. The next day, an aid, or student prints all the work simultaneously to the Xerox printer. (Highlight all files, right click and select print. Choose the Xerox) Students receive their graded assignment.

Option B (introductory level style)

When a student has completed his work, he prints his text to the infrared printer.  The papers are turned in and the teacher grades by hand.

 

Comments:

This lesson can be taught in the classroom with as little as one computer and the presenter cart or TV presenter.  All students are actively engaged in technology and Internet content.  The teacher is using technology efficiently at her comfort level. The AlphaSmarts are reliable and easy to use.