Over the past couple weeks, we have been working to draft opinion pieces. We started by reviewing what an opinion was and how to use reasons to support their opinion. 2.6 paragraphs were introduced to help them organize their thoughts into well crafted paragraphs. Next, I modeled to show students how to complete organizers to include their opinions, reasons, and support evidences, as well as, what someone with an opposing opinion might think. Students were taught how to use their organizers to create their 2.6 paragraphs. Finally, we were reaching the point of being ready to publish.
Students were eager to get to the publishing part after the mention of typing and Chromebooks. Pieces were being finished fast than it had taken them to finished one paragraph over the last few weeks. I was feeling pretty confident. With the 6 Chromebooks in my classroom, I began to assigned students the task of typing. This is where the challenges began. I really hadn't planned for the needs students would have during typing. While conferences with other students, many were calling my name, coming up to me asking questions about formatting, starting a new paragraph, tabbing, and sizing.
I was surprised by all of these questions. I honestly had assumed they would have received instruction on these concepts within computer lab before coming to third grade. Clearly my assumptions were wrong. This really has me reflecting on the reading we have been doing. I can't assumed that students are digital natives in the sense that they have a basic understanding of all technology. In the future, I will plan for instruction in these concepts to support student success. To make this work, I gave small group instruction to several groups as they began to type their pieces. Several students then became my tech experts and helped others students who encountered trouble.
Overall, this wasn't a complete fail, but in the future, teaching these concepts to the whole group would have been much more effective and less disruptive.
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I can really relate to the situation you encountered with the Chromebooks. I have found myself in this situation many times, as it is easy to assume our students have basic skills in using many different technology tools. The students appear on a daily basis to know so much about technology, that sometimes I forget to take a step back and think I need to teach them before expecting them to use any type of technology. This becomes really hard for me to remember as at times, the students know how to fix my computer or SmartBoard better than I do. I love that you have "tech experts" in your classroom. This is an idea I may have to steal for my own classroom.
ReplyDeleteThis is what being a teacher is all about. I'm sure you were frustrated and maybe overwhelmed with all of the questions and unforeseen comments, but this is how we grow as educators. I also struggle with this. I teach a variation of levels and even though all of my students are 7th graders, it is crazy to see the difference between those students who have the exposure to the technology outside of school versus the ones who do not. I also love the idea of the tech experts! I love seeing students taking on leadership roles and the fact that they're 3rd graders is super impressive!
ReplyDeleteI ran into a similar problem this year with my 4th graders! I am continually surprised with how little they know. That is why I was so interested in learning about digital literacy through this course. I had always assumed that my students (digital natives) would be ale to problem solve and use the computer with more independence. Contrary, they need to be taught the skills!
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