Ideal world: 30 working laptops for every student
Realistic world: 18 laptops with 15 working well.
This past week, on wednesday I had my spanish 10 class working on a prezi project about their favourite sport and player. My school has carts which contain 18 laptops. Normally I need to book the library and what we call the "COWS" [computers on wheels]. But because a number of teachers are using technology at my school, the day that I had plan to have my students work on their projects there was one set of COWS and the library was booked.
Solution??? What was I to do with 30 students and 15 working laptops?? Well for starters, I luckily had a computer in my classroom so that made it 16 computers but still 14 students to worry about...Well then it dawned on me, why can't I have my students who have internet connection on their cellphones, use it to do some research on their sport and player.
Now I have always been quite hesitant about having my students use their cellphones, but I found it actually came to my rescue. Who knew that cellphones when used accordingly could be so useful in the classroom?
For the first time my students were all engaged and working very hard on their projects. I couldn't believe my eyes on how engaged and how focused they all were. Occasionally someone asking me if their Spanish was correct or how you would say something.
Not only were my students learning and practicing their Spanish this day but they were also learning about technology, many had never heard of prezi and were quite fascinated on how it worked.
I also learned a big lesson this day, that if students are showed how to use technology accordingly for example cellphones are not just for talking or texting but can be used for school work, they learn so much better!
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