Computers in Schools Lesson Plan, Productivity Tools

Lesson Plan:

Productivity Tools

Objectives:

Students will:

Identify common teaching activities that occur outside instructional time.
Identify tools to assist with teacher productivity for non-instructional activities.
Competently use basic drawing and painting tools to create classroom materials.
Critically examine lessons giving feedback to the developers.

NETS-T Standards:

1A. Teachers demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology.
3A. Teachers facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.
5C. Teachers apply technology to increase productivity.

Materials:

Teacher computer with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and lecture slides
Portable Computer Projector
Digital camera
Graphics for the sponge activity (one on a transparency, one on the teacher computer, and one on a flash drive)
Pencils, markers, and butcher paper
Timer
Copies of the Lesson Plan I Peer Evaluation Form (2 per student)

Procedures:

Have students take out their draft lesson plans and leave these at their desks. Then, have each student choose one of the butcher paper graphics on which to work for the sponge activity.

Select one student who will write on the board during the group brainstorming session.

Sponge Activity: Using Projection Devices to Make Posters (10 minutes)

Using an overhead projector and one computer projection projectors , have students work in groups to enlarge several graphics (e.g., human eye, shark, welcome banner) to poster size on large pieces of butcher paper. Have them begin by outlining the graphics in pencil, and then go over them with marker. Also, have one projection device pointed at a whiteboard. Have students outline a map of the U.S.A. or Nevada using dry erase markers on the board.

Ask students to brainstorm ways they could use this projection technique in elementary classrooms for productivity and instructional purposes.

Opening (5 minutes)

Announce daily outline.
Announce daily objectives.

Group Brainstorming: Productivity Tools (20 minutes) – see lecture slides; hear audio

Ask students to brainstorm activities teachers do other than teach. Have one student write these on the board. Then, go through the list and ask students to identify technological tools that can ease each process. See table of examples.

Lecture on basic non-instructional activities and technologies useful for assisting in these activities

Peer Reviewing: Lesson Plans (20 minutes)

Note that some teacher productivity activities include peer review and materials review. Teachers are reviewed by their administrators on an annual basis and teachers regularly must evaluate teaching materials to determine whether they are acceptable for use in the classroom. Introduce methods/expectations of peer reviewing and materials reviewing.

Have students get into the groups of three and provide each student with two Lesson Plan I Peer Evaluation Forms. Each student will present his/her draft lesson plan to the small group. Afterward, group members will complete the evaluation forms for the presenting individual and give the forms to that person. The evaluations should include substantial and clear recommendations for improvement. After one individual presentation is complete, rotate to the next group member. Time each individual allowing 5 minutes for presentions and one minute for evaluations.

Call all students together. Ask them to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses they identified in the presented lessons. Ask how this exercise will assist them in preparing their own lessons and discuss peer review as a method for increasing the quality of student work.

Demonstrate: Painting Tools (15 minutes) — see painting video

Demonstrate features of drawing and painting within PowerPoint by creating a single lesson slide (see example). Demonstrate finding images using Google images, cropping, lines, arrows, aligning, and moving front-to-back.

Closing (5 minutes)

Review the daily outline.
Review the daily objectives.
Review readings for next session.
Remind students Lesson Plan I and Lesson Plan I Slideshow are due next session.

Absence Requirements:

Ask a classmate to describe the poster projection technique. Then, brainstorm five ways you could use this technique for productivity purposes and five ways you could use it for instructional purposes. Present these in a table within a Word document.
In another table within the same Word document, brainstorm activities teachers do other than teach, and list the possible technologies they could use to complete those activities.
Review this lesson plan, listen to the audio, review the associated lecture slides, and view the painting video.
Ask one classmate if you might review his/her Lesson Plan I using the Lesson Plan I Peer Evaluation Form. Provide one copy of the form to your colleague and turn in one copy to the instructor.