Not enough devices? No Internet connection? No problem!
I've got a guest post for you today, presented by MBC Senior Coach Matthew Kitchens. Matt is an innovator when it comes to providing technology access to all, even where school and student resources are limited. Here are a few tips that you can use in your classroom today.
And now, here's Matt:
To enjoy the benefits of My Big Campus, classes don’t have to storm computer labs. Home Internet access isn’t a big obstacle, either. There are a number of ways My Big Campus can be harnessed in a classroom containing just a handful of machines. Here’s a look at how it’s done:
Learning Stations
Student computers become a regular part of learning-station activities. Groups of two to four children circulate throughout the classroom to interact with material on different subjects. At the computers, students engage a YouTube video loaded to a My Big Campus discussion board. After watching the video, learners add their thoughts to the discussion board and comment on the posts of their peers.
Anchor Activities
Anchor activities allow learning to continue for students who finish assignments quickly. Educators post a compelling image on a My Big Campus discussion board. From there, kids write a story inspired by the picture. For an added twist, classmates continue the story or peer edit the work by posting comments underneath.
Teaching Teams
On Monday, a teacher accesses My Big Campus to create an assignment, which is due Friday. Students complete the work online at home, or tackle the tasks in class as anchor activities. Throughout the week, when students change classes, colleagues allow students to address the assignment as an anchor activity. A little teamwork goes a long way.
In addition, many schools are extending access to labs before and after school and during lunch periods. For students with home computers but no Internet access, some teachers check out thumb drives with content for them to review.
Thanks, Matt! Got ideas or experiences of your own to share? Let me know in the comments.