Under-utilized Mac lab... responses for advice

[Matt Kollasch <Matthew.Kollasch@UNI.EDU>]

Here are the responses for advice re the Mac lab.  Original query first
Thanks to everyone who contributed.  matt kollasch  --kollasch@uni.edu--


From:   IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch" 18-JAN-1994 10:08:0
 7.
 99
To:     IN%"LM_NET@SUVM.SYR.EDU"  "Multiple recipients of list LM_NET"
CC:
Subj:   Under-utilized computer lab

I would like ideas on how to help a school use their
under-utilized Macintosh computer lab.  The 11 stand-alone
computers have ClarisWorks and Kidpix.  The school is
Grade K-5, 280 students.  They do have modem, but no
Internet access.

There is some inertia on the part of the teachers, but I
don't think that is the biggest problem. The principal
seems to think that the teachers don't realize how much
the computers can be of help to their teaching and need ideas
that tied to the curriculum.  She wants
to make it work.

In addition to staff development ideas, I'd appreciate any
ideas you have on making this a success story.  Of course,
I plan to involve the school librarian!

Can you help us with your expertise?  I will be talking to
the principal again in a week.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Matt Kollasch

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
            Matthew A. Kollasch, Director
            Instructional Resources & Technology Services
            College of Education  SEC 222
            University of Northern Iowa
            Cedar Falls, Iowa  50614-0609
            319.273.6066  fax 319.273.6997
            Internet: kollasch@uni.edu

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


From:   IN%"mez1zo@nevada.EDU" 18-JAN-1994 10:51:02.44
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matt,
MAC Globe and MAC USA are great software programs - they can
be loaded on the individual stations. Fifth grades can use these
programs as they study coutries of the world and the United States.
There are also many math software programs.
CD ROMs are nice - but unless you purchases individual drives for each
MAC your service will be slow.  We have an ethernet network using Apple
Share to serve CD ROM drives - wouldn't recommend it because speed is
slow.

Hope these ideas help.
Roxanne Boyce, Librarian
Johnson JHS
7701 Ducharme Ave.
Las Vegas, NVC 89128
mez1zo@nevada.edu


From:   IN%"STEINKE@4j.lane.EDU"  "Sheryl Steinke 687-3280" 18-JAN-1994 11:40:21
 .0
 0
To:     IN%"kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"
CC:
Subj:   Lab / dispersed

    My suggestion would be to disperse the lab into classroom clusters of
    3-4 computers.  Teachers and students need to have access to
    computers for them to be considered as "real school.

    Sheryl Steinke

    steinke@4j.lane.edu

From:   IN%"palsdaj@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU" 18-JAN-1994 13:16:23.50
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:     IN%"lm_net@suvm.syr.EDU"
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matt,

Random House has published a paperback book called *The Official KidPix
Activity Book* ($12.00 ISBN 0-679-74685-4) which has 225 nifty projects
kids can do with KidPix.  I've found that this little program is a terrific
one to get teachers started on since they have almost immedate success with
it.

Good luck

Doug Johnson, District Media Supervisor | The Noah Principal:
Mankato Public Schools, ISD77,          | No nore prizes for predicting rain.
Box 8741, Mankato MN 56001-8741         | Prizes only for building arks.
507-387-3461                            |        Louis Gerstner
palsdaj@vax1.mankato.msus.edu           |



From:   COBRA::HUEMANS5630  18-JAN-1994 13:27:48.20
To:     KOLLASCH
CC:
Subj:   Underutil. lab

Matt:

I think you're right to focus on suggestions dealing with staff development.
We have done several whole building inservices as well as participate in LEvels
I and II of computer learning month.  ALot of times teachers are threatened
(even at elem. level) by thought that kids would know more than they do!  We
have gone to informal "wednesday workshops" <offered 7:30AM      AND    3:30 PM
to fit all schedules> with little door prizes and handouts to use as crutches
for novices and have seen usage and confidance in lab go up tremendously!
Actually we need another lab!  I would also suggest student mentoring & lab
assistants who can be trained and thus be of help in whatever class they're in
. An elementary setting is of course a little different than a grade 7  & 8
setting!

Maybe another suggestion that could be made is to establish (or activiate?)
building level technology committee to promote lab and decide what intent was
of establishing it in the first place.  Maybe investing in an LCD panel to use
for introductory activities would be useful also if they don't already have
one.  Just thinking of what has worked for us!


Sandii Huemann-Kelly
HUEMANS5630@uni.edu

See you at Grant Wood workshop Jan.24th!


From:   IN%"PALSEJG@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU" 18-JAN-1994 14:47:58.82
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matt,

I try to encourage our teachers to take a Mac home over the weekend or vacation
whenever possible.  This has helped some of our teachers to become more
comfortable using computers and using them to teach.  Some computer coordinators
squirm when I mention teachers taking computers home and possibly dropping them
in transit.  I can say, however, (knock on wood) we haven't had a problem yet.

Also maybe you could consider putting the computers into the classroom for a
period of time.  Perhaps if the computers were IN the classroom, they would be
of more use.  Good Luck!

PALSEJG@VAX1.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU          John Eye, N0HWD
Packet: N0HWD@KE0WO.#NWIA.IA.USA.NA    Media Specialist/Computer Coordinator
HOME: (507) 376-3848                   Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster Schools
WORK: (507) 945-8123                   Round Lake, Minnesota 56167

To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

when we got our new Mac Lab (our 4th lab in the school; we also have lot
of macs in the media center and classrooms) we developed materials that
provide precise directions to teahcers on how to do things with
Clarisworks. We also developed sheets full of learner outcomes for
different classes and also tips for having a successful lab exeprience.
We also offered an assistant to go with the teachers the first time they
go into the lab. (so far only one has taken us up on our offer).  Things
are working very well. As soon as teachers heard how well the kids are
doing they felt better.  Also, our principal told one group of teachers
(those who have been draggging their tails about technology) that they had
to use the lab.  During this first semester 10 of the 12 that were told
they had to use the lab have used it.    Good luck!     Oh, another
helpful things has been our Powerbooks. we have twoin the lab which
teachers can check out.  People whohave had no interest in computers are
using the powerbooks.

Mary Alice Anderson
Winona Minnesota Middle School




From:   IN%"bhamilt@tenet.EDU"  "Betty Dawn Hamilton" 18-JAN-1994 18:45:55.10
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matt,

This is not an advertisement (even though 2 or 3 of my activities are
included in the book), but Linworth Publishing has recently published
K-6, 6-8, 9-12 _Skills for Life_ books (3) that have adaptable lesson
plans, right down to the worksheets, goals, evaluations, etc.  Most can
apply either to electronic or traditional data retrieval and use.

Probably, once teachers begin to look at those, they can adapt different
formats to different subjects.

Betty
                            bhamilt@tenet.edu
Betty Hamilton, LRS             .----.
Brownfield High School LMC      |    |                Home:
701 Cub Drive, North        ____|*    ~~~~~~.         911 East Oak St.
Brownfield, Texas  79316    \               |         Brownfield, TX 79316
(806) 637-4523               \_/\        . /          (806) 637-4213
                                  \     {
                                    \  }
                                      ~
From:   IN%"SOEADM62%UCONNVM.bitnet@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.EDU"  "Peter Salesses" 18-JA
 N-
 1994 18:53:05.35
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matt
How about a local MAC BBS, that way the children could get used to accessing
 services without all the expense?

 Peter

From:   IN%"bjansen@tenet.EDU"  "Barbara Jansen" 18-JAN-1994 19:28:35.02
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:     IN%"LM_NET@suvm.acs.syr.EDU"  "Multiple recipients of list LM_NET"
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Do the teachers know how to use the Macintosh for their own productivity
(communications to students, parents, and administrators as well as for
instructional communications?) If they are proficient on the computer,
this should transfer to successful curriculum integration with their
students in the lab. Staff development is the key. Once the teachers reach
a level of comfort, then they can transfer it to their students. One idea
I use when training teachers in Macintosh skills, is to have them discuss
with the group, how that skill can be used professionally and
instructionally. Sometimes, the workshop trainer needs to have some ideas
to present for integration as a springboard for discussion. Kid Pix and
ClarisWorks can integrate into ANY subject area. I have  *many* ideas for
staff and student training, as well as curriculum integration, if you need
further assistance. I will be happy to help.

Barbara A. Jansen
Librarian, Live Oak Elementary
Round Rock, Texas
bjansen@tenet.edu
512/331-0996
From:   IN%"zarinnie@uwwvax.uww.EDU"  "E. Anne Zarinnia" 18-JAN-1994 21:41:17.53
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

The lab you describe is much better than one at Monona Grove Elementary
School in Madison.  There, one of my students, Pam Mulich, has been cooperating
with the second grade teacher, Elsie Wilson.

Pam has students in 1st & 2nd grade coming into the lab and learning 2
finger typing skills.

Elsie uses a writers workshop approach in class.  The students draft a
story, work with Elsie and make editor's proof marks.  They then go
to the lab in 3s and 4s and enter their story into the computer, usually
while Pam is busy with another class.  Then they make an appointment with Pam
and together they recjheck and add graphics.  The stories are then printed
on an image-writer with 4 color ribbon.  Their work is
posted on the wall in the corridor, turned into books etc.

I watched and was fascinated.  Two little girls sat ther entering a collabor-ati
 ve writing endeavour.  "Do you think four should be a number or a word."  "I
think it should be a word."  The results varied in length from a few paragraphs
to a few pages.

I know that Pam and Elsie would be delighted to share with whoever calls or
writes.

This is just one idea.  It would be helpful to many if you share your
responses over the net.

Good Luck

Anne Zarinnia

******************************************************************************
E. Anne Zarinnia                                Dept. Educational Foundations
(414) 472-1463 Fax:  472-5716                   Univ. Wisconsin-Whitewater
Director, Library Media Program                 Whitewater, WI 53190
                                                zarinnie@uwwvax.uww.edu
******************************************************************************
From:   IN%"wcraigjr@remc5.mich.fred.ORG" 19-JAN-1994 03:33:52.18
To:     IN%"LM_NET@SUVM.SYR.EDU"  "Multiple recipients of list LM_NET"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Ed Problems/Tech Solutions

} Reply-to: dbyer@CSN.ORG
} From: Dottie Byer <dbyer@CSN.ORG>
} To: &sig.lmnet
} Subject: Ed Problems/Tech Solutions
} One of my administrators is gathering a list of the most pressing
DOTTIE, IF THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS HELP, YOU ARE WELCOME TO THEM.
LETS SEPERATE WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED INTO TWO PARTS:

[1]     ED PROBLEMS:  SEE THESE 3 BOOKS:

HANDBOOK OF GIFTED EDUCATION  by Nicholas Colangelo
        Chapter 9.  TheSchoolwide Enrichment Model.

COMPERHENSIVE CURRICULUM FOR GIFTED LEARNERS   2nd edition  1994
        by
 Joyce VanTassel-Baska

if youimplement a schoolwide ssytem model which is comfortable for the
Students, then a number of of theEducaitonal Problems will cease to
exist.

Encoruage your Students to ask all kinds of questions.  See

CREATIVE LEARNING & TEACHING    Chapters 9 & 10.
        by  E. Paul Torrance

[2]     TECH SOLUTIONS.  Experiment with these:

        [a]     MATH: Emphasize exploration.  make heavy use of the
pocket calculators int he earlygrades, and the graphing calculators for
9th Grade Algebra.
        Shift away from the traditional teaching by authority of the
teachers lectures and the textbook.  Shift from the verbgal, symbolic,
and the theoratical.
        Start witht eh visual, the spatial, and informatl geometric
presentation of concrete, real world objects.

        {b}     Establish e-mail mentors and Pen-Pals for your Talented &
Gifted Students.

        [c]     make heavy use of two-way Interactive TV for inservice
enhancement of your Teaching Stff, principals and the Superintendent.
        After all, EDUCATION is supposed to be good for you!!!

WILSON H. CRAIG, JR.
<wcraigjr@remc5.mich.fred.org>

<wcraigjr@remc5.mich.fred.org> ----------------- 43.17.30N, 84.36.27W
WILSON H. CRAIG, JR.



From:   IN%"erosen@ncsa.uiuc.EDU" 19-JAN-1994 11:42:54.27
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

We got a university student to come in two days a week for a semester and
work with small groups of students who were interested.  He worked with
interested teachers one day after school each week.  Only one session was
an inservice for everyone.  The student mentors and self selected teacher
mentors now work with student groups.  When things get hairy we step
in(media center staff).  Otherwise it runs by sign up pretty well.  Classes
have had field trips to the university computer labs, etc. where more
students are available to help the kids which builds motivation and
interest.  The teachers have email to communicate questions to the
university staff when it involves something over our heads.  This is the
third year and it works!



From:   IN%"bjansen@tenet.EDU"  "Barbara Jansen" 20-JAN-1994 22:11:56.15
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"  "Matt Kollasch"
CC:     IN%"LM_NET@suvm.acs.syr.EDU"  "Multiple recipients of list LM_NET"
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matt, some additional ideas and thoughts for utilizing the under-utilized
Mac lab:

1) Establish a team of four or five teachers on the campus who receive
Macintosh training. The principal should release them from their
professional duties during instructional time--not expect them to train on
their own time. If there is no one available to train them, let them have
time to read manuals, watch video tapes (MacAcademy) and practice,
practice, practice. The librarian should be among this group. Once their
level of expertise is heightened, they can teach skills to the other
faculty members either after school, during conference times, or on staff
development days. (I helped establish a district-wide initiative of
training the trainers--we call it TechTeam and I am one of the district
trainers.) This team can serve in many capacities: Training teachers,
managing and scheduling the lab, technical support, and curriculum
integration consulting.

2) After the teachers gain some expertise, allow them time to plan with
their teams ways they can integrate ClarisWorks and Kid Pix into their
curriculum. Devising a form for their use (a sort of lesson plan format)
may be beneficial. It should have places for the curriculum objective,
materials including software program, component(s) of the program to be
introduced or used (for example using the thesaurus in ClarisWorks to
replace the verb "to be" or "say" or finding a tool in Kid Pix to
illustrate symmetry). Also included should be  classroom discussion and
preparation, lab demo or instruction, follow-up--you get the idea.

3) Make two notebooks accessible in the lab:

  a) Curriculum integration ideas that teachers have used
successfully--they provide expamples that their students have done and any
other pertinent information. sometime offering incentives for including
ideas in the notebook inspires some very imaginative uses of the Mac!

  b) Keystroked lessons on particular ClarisWorks and Kid Pix
skills--sequences of instruction. If a teacher doesn't remember how to
create a graph (chart) in ClarisWorks, she finds the instructions in the
manual. I have both manuals if you are interested in seeing example pages.

4) Uses of the modem with no Internet access: local bulletin boards (check
with you local Mac user group, America On-Line,  and Classroom Prodigy. I
realize funds may be limited.

**5)** The principal should set the instructional pace and
require/encourage teachers to use the lab by:
  a) modeling computer use in her own communications;
  b) making frequent visits to the lab to praise integration in action;
  c) support staff development for trainers by providing release time,
then provide release time for the trainers to train the rest of the faculty;
  d) provide time for planning--integrating the Mac into the curriculum;
  e) funding or lobbying for funds for staff development and additional
hardware and software;
  f) allowing some open blocks in the schedule (if it is not flexible) for
teachers to use the lab at point of need in their curriculum; and
  g) encourage teachers to use it in every step of the writing process.

I believe that successful integration of technology into the curriculum is
based upon two tenets:

1) Teachers must have adequate staff development and release time for
training and learning.

2) The computer is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Like the library
media program, it does not have its own content, but consists of process
skills. The curriculum supplies the content. It remediates, supports, and
enriches the students' course of study.

these are fa few of the many ideas I have, which may give you some help
when you discuss this with the principal next week. Please keep making a
difference in connecting the computer with the curriculum. This principal
sounds like she wants to make that difference. Please let me know if I can
be of further assistance in areas of training or curriculum integration.

Barbara A. Jansen
Live Oak Elementary, Round Rock ISD
8607 Anderson Mill Road
Austin, TX  78729
512/331-0996
bjansen@tenet.edu


From:   IN%"j_kendall@mentor.unh.EDU"  "JOYCE M. KENDALL" 22-JAN-1994 16:52:01.3
 5
To:     IN%"Matthew.Kollasch@cobra.uni.edu"
CC:
Subj:   RE: Under-utilized computer lab

Matthew - is there anyone in the building with the computer lab who teaches
the children how to use the computers, how to use ClarisWorks?  Is there
anone there who gives workshops for the teachers on the same?  Without the
support of a person or persons who will do some instruction for students
and teachers alike, and within that instruction link the use to practical,
timely applications, it will continue to go underutilized.  Just after an
assignment is given by a teacher - a writing assignment - some mini-lessons
could be given on word processing.  KidPix is really so easy - I cannot
imagine the children not using it.  I also plan to help students build a
database with social studies classes - they will gather data and then learn how
to use that data within a database.  Thereby 1)gathering useful data, 2)
learning how to build a database, 3) learning how to USE a database.
Instruction MUST be tied into the immediate needs and curriculum, and the
support must be in place.
Good luck.
Joyce Kendall
Information Technology Services
Fall Mountain Regional School District
Alstead, NH 03602
j_kendall@mentor.unh.edu