Prior to the introduction of HyperStudio into the classroom, students presented their data in one-dimensional mode, usually on a sheet of paper. Students now have a tool that allows them to think on multi-levels and link ideas together. Once students learn how to use HyperStudio, each student can pursue the style and manner of presentation. HyperStudio also provides the opportunity to work as members of a cooperative learning group centered on a particular theme.
Using technology in this way engages students more actively than having them sit in front of a computer working on an electronic worksheet (drill-n-practice IDEAL/CCC style).
What is HyperStudio?
HyperStudio is a hypermedia program that refers to the integration of various media into a cohesive presentation involving sounds, video, photos, and text. It consists of text, audio, and graphics combined in whatever manner the student deems appropriate. HyperStudio allows students to create applications from scratch, find information quickly, and link concepts together, and requires the user to think in logical steps. It also has the ability to grow as the user demands more from it, and it also runs many peripheral devices (e.g. CD-ROM, laser videodisc, video, and scanner).
Sixth Graders, HyperStudio, and the Solar System
Sixth graders have worked in a cooperative learning group to create a HyperStudio stack based on the Solar System. Each student researched a particular planet, focusing on information found in the laserdisc program called The Great Solar System Rescue, and wrote brief summaries of the information. Students then typed their summaries using BBEDIT-Lite (a freeware text word processor), imported typed summaries, then illustrated their summaries with graphics from within the HyperStudio program (NOTE: Graphics can be imported from Bilingual Writing Center, Kid Pix, LabQuest spreadsheet/graphing program, and Graph Club). If you would like a copy of this HyperStudio stack, contact Miguel Guhlin for a copy; you will need to provide one high-density 3.5 inch disk.
Parents’ Technology Institute Classes
For the past few months, Elementary parents have been attending the Parents’ Technology Institute, a bi-weekly technology class taught by Miguel Guhlin, Margaret Escalera, and Rick Glaser (a visiting presenter). Parents had the opportunity to discuss issues related to instructional technology, what their role is in the integration of technology into the curriculum, and how they can impact their child’s academic achievement.
In addition to serving as a forum for discussion of technology related issues, parents had the opportunity to work with MacIntosh based software applications--word processing, spreadsheet/graphic, hypermedia--and have hands-on training on MacIntosh computers.
Parents measured their progress on the Technology Institute Checklist. Parents who completed the class received a certificate of completion.
Several classroom teachers also attended; one was so excited about the class she even brought her parents! Attendance to each night of class allow teachers to earn two hours of credit towards the requisite fourteen hours needed to have the school provide them with a Mac computer and printer.
Parents and teachers will meet on Tuesday night,April 5th, for a final get-together.
Exploring the Internet
What is the Internet? The internet is a global network of computers and their interconnections, which allows its users to visit faraway places like Australia, Japan, Russia, and a variety of other countries around the world. Via the internet, you can control computers at remote sites without ever leaving the comfort of your home or your classroom. All you need to make the connection is a computer, communications software, a modem, and a standard phone line.
What’s Out There? Until you turn on a radio, you are unaware of what’s out there. Until you access the Internet, you are unaware of the plethora of computer programs, graphics, lesson plans, information, reports, and raw data waiting for you and your students. About one million people use the Internet daily, while information packet traffic rises by 12% each month. About 727,000 host computers are connect, although this number is probably less than what’s actually out there (the study was done in 1992) now.
The Internet is so exciting because you can access a variety of on-line information located at different university around the country and the world; you can communicate with other teachers and exchange lesson plans and ideas; you can look at weather forecasts for different parts of the country; you can reading mailing lists that provide a wealth of information on particular topics from parenting to educational technology to bilingual education. You can also access free magazines that are delivered to you at your Internet address.
How to access the Internet? Most people have to pay $25 to join on-line services such as Compuserve or GENIE, and then pay an hourly rate. Since you’re a teacher--or in education at least--you can use the Internet via the Texas Education Network (TENET) for the annual fee of $5.00. No hourly fee. No monthly fee. Only $5.00. If you fail to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, you will have missed out!!I invite all of you to attend Internet training being offered after school. You’ll receive a guide to the Internet, as well communications software and instructions on how to leave e-mail. You’ll also be registered on TENET at the training session.
Computers in School: The Death Knell of Drill-n-Practice Software
When third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders go to computer lab, they work on an integrated learning system called IDEAL. Integrated learning systems are based on behaviorist theory prevalent many years ago. This behaviorist theory has impacted classroom instruction for many years in the form of transmission model of instruction. According to Computers in Schools (Vol 9,1993, “Technology and Educational Change,” Stoddart, Trish; Niederhauser, Dale; The Haworth Press). it is the instructor’s responsibility to provide the information; the students’ responsibility to memorize it. Lecture, textbooks, drill and practice predominate in traditional classrooms; most instructors concentrate on covering the content not on assuring students understand it. The essential ideas of transmission approaches are rooted in the objectivist view that learning should involve students in mastering and replicating the knowledge and skills transmitted to them in school.
In Integrated Learning Systems--like IDEAL and CCC--learning is seen as mastering an existent body of knowledge and learning is entirely consistent with traditional transmission pedagogy (which may explain why many teachers subscribe to the use of Heartbeeps for TAAS drill-n-practice, electronic worksheet as NAPT and TAAS test dates approach). Integrated Learning Systems are popular with those who believe computers should do the teaching--teacher-proof technology. At Perales Elementary, we believe and know otherwise. The tool-based software view was affirmed by the Texas Education Agency monitoring visit in February. We were commended for the simple reason that we believe teachers can learn how to use technology in the classroom for instruction, to facilitate student interaction, as a tool for learning and teaching.
The Alternative: Tool-Based Software
Technology can be used as a tool for student inquiry and as an information management tool. Tool-based software--Bilingual Writing Center, Decisions, Decisions, HyperStudio--is based on constructivist philosophy of learning. It is in contrast with transmission views of teaching and learning. In TBS view, cognitive approaches to instruction view learners as active participants in the learning process who construct meaning through experience and develop personal theories about the physical and social world. Which view do you support?
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION NEWS
Internet Connections
Twenty-six thousand schools across the United States will be linked from grades K-12 to national information infrastructures. This service--to be called the Basic Education Connection--will include free installation and linkages to help schools reach databases such as the Internet, as well as free educational cable TV programming and access to certain data services. The 26,000 Schools represent about 25% of K-12 schools in the United States.
Faster Educational MacIntosh
Apple computer has announced two new MacIntosh computers for the education market--the MacIntosh LC 575 and LC 550. In addition to being all-in-one units for the classroom (built-in CD-ROM, speakers, 14 inch color monitor, super-drive, 160 meg hard drive, 5 megs of RAM, 33 mhz)these two models will be upgradeable to the Power PC 601 chip when it is in full production later this year.
