Computers in the Classroom Judy Arzt, Ph.D., Saint Joseph College, CT Application Project: Choice 1
Faculty page Syllabus Assignments Schedule Samples Ideas for Application Project Application Project: Choice 2 Reference Books Email me: jarzt@sjc.edu	Purpose and Background The purpose of this project is to become proficient with computer tool applicable to your certification area. For example, if your certification is secondary science, math, or social studies, you should be a competent user of spreadsheets (e.g., Excel) and be able to implement lessons for students to use the software for meeting curricular goals.  If your interest area is the lower-elementary level, you should know an easy-to-use word processing program (KidWorks Deluxe), a publishing program or multimedia (KidPix Deluxe, Photo Story) a construction software (e.g., Diorama Designer and Timeliner or Community Construction), and a mapping or webbing program (e.g., Kidspiration). Blogs and movie-making are possibilities for any grade level or certification area. The requirement is that the program be a tool one that allows for the creation of some kind of product in the way that word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs do. Some programs are highly subject-specific, such as an architectural drawing one. You should be able to determine an appropriate tool for your own subject area to complete this project and to make it as practical as possible for you. For example, if you teach consumer science (e.g., foods), you should be able to find diet and recipe analysis programs suitable for the secondary curriculum. Possible Responses and Evaluation This assignment allows for a wide range of responses, though specific criteria will be applied to evaluate all students' work. These criteria are Creation of meaningful products) that demonstrate effective use of the software for a stated curricular/teaching purpose—that is, that you can successfully use the program yourself to generate products, i.e., printouts that reflect critical thinking in terms of using the software.  Demonstrated understanding of how the software works, perhaps by authoring instruction sheets or demonstrating its operation in class to us.  Demonstrated insights into how the software can be used in a teaching situation, which can be proven by writing a list of ideas for implementing the software with students, or in some other means that you devise. You will need to submit printouts of your work, an accompanying set of directions of how the printouts were created, and a report about how the software complements your teaching situation. Some software programs in addition to Excel and Access that can be used for this project include: Desktop Publishing or Multimedia: Publisher, Ultimate Writing and Creativity Center, KidsWorks Deluxe, Center, Kid Pix, Imovie, Moviemaker, PhotoStory Deluxe Blogs: Blogspot, WordPress, Edublog Database: Inspire Data Webbing: Inspiration, Expression, Kidspiration Construction: Timeliner, Community Construction Kit, Map Making Toolkit, Graph Club, Geometer's Sketchpad, Neighborhood Map Machine, Rainforest Designer, Graph Master
Last revised: 8/13/09 Tele: (806) 231-5353 Email: jarzt@sjc.edu Office: Mercy 250 ©2009 Judy M. Arzt. All Rights Reserved. Saint Joseph College, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117