Instruction in a Computer Lab
I believe beginning this general education classroom requires advance preparation, objectives and topics written onto the white board, and possibly handouts for student note taking. I instruct by presenting the basics, then walking around the classroom as students work on computer assignments from myitlab.com. I encourage students to work with one another (on skill-based projects,, not exams) and raise their hand when they need to stop me for assistance. This information in this modular is a perfect reminder that I need to continue teaching as I have been, oh, with a smile, too! :)
Jo,
I really like the idea of writing the objectives & topics on the white board (or having them projected via power point) as this helps prepare the students for learning.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I, too, am teaching MS Office skills via MyITLab. The transition from more conventional teaching to a web-based paradigm was a little uncomfortable at first. The problem was what to do with myself while the class was engaged on the web site: observing without distracting. I have always written an outline of the days' activities on the whiteboard, and the students use that to keep themselves on schedule.
Hello I two enjoy the hands on aspect of working with the different you find out who has assets whether its a little or a lot
thank you cynthia
I too put my objectives on the white board every class, so that the students are aware of what is expected to be covered that day. Instructing in a computer lab can sometimes be difficult. If their is lecture going on the students are not allowed to be on the computer. The keyboards are flipped up and the computers are in rest mode. When it is time to turn the computers on the students are quite aware of the rules with surfing the web and using facebook. Our school only allows for the students to use facebook 40 minutes out of the day. That is their 10 minute breaks throughout the day. Computers can be disrupting.
I'm a technology teacher which likes to demonstrate the lesson for the students from a hands on perspective. Then, provide hands on exercises for the students to grasp the concepts that were taught for the day. Of course when the students are working, I walk around and assist them.
Angelia,
I think this demonstrates the need we have, as instructors, to make sure that we are adapting to our teaching environment & making the best decisions for that environment & our students.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Sandra,
I would think that the roving/monitoring is vital in this type of environment so you can really see if the students are grasping the concepts.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I agree that writing the expectations for the day helps to keep the students, as well as myself on task. It reminds them of where we are and how the class will progress during this class meeting. I also go ahead and write in a separate area, what will be occurring during the next class meeting, as a "heads up." Of course, there are times that it must be modified, but for the most part, we stay pretty much on target. This has worked especially well in my computer-related courses.
Lisa,
it really is a great way of keeping ourselves "honest" to cover the material in an efficient manner.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The first time I taught in a computer lab environment, I would write down the objectives and topics on a paper and pass it around. I soon found that this was very ineffective. Now I have them on a blank wall using the overhead projector. I also move around quite a bit in the computer lab, as students will often be on social networks, instead of doing his/her work!
Rosa,
great example of how the environment often must dictate our practice as it does in this case.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
