Elaine Harris
5th Grade Teacher
The George White Middle School
Hillsdale, New Jersey

What do you teach at George White?

5th grade.

What elements of the learner-active, technology infused classroom have you incorporated into your classroom so far? Be specific as to tasks, structures, etc. ?

  • Social Studies problem-based learning tasks: One involving geographic features and the Peace Corps; another involving viewing Native American museums on the Internet, creating own exhibit, and emailing the curator with suggestions.

  • Health problem-based learning task: Students are creating personal health kits to be donated to the Red Cross.

  • Language problem-based learning task: Emailing written chapters with new ending for the novel to the author of "Sign of the Beaver".

  • student scheduling, minilessons, and rubrics.

Share a story/incident/observation that illustrates the change in your classroom:

Children look for schedule each morning as soon as they walk in. They ask me to teach them something they are wondering (indicating felt-need). Students sign up for minilessons, integrate computers completely into their learning, depend more on themselves and one another, and rely on rubrics.

What ways have you used technology in your classroom? How are you looking forward to using technology?

  • Internet: research, email, importing pictures, viewing films on Brain Pop, viewing exhibits.

  • Word Processing: creation of covers for tasks, make borders, typed written material

  • I would like to learn about the digital camera, more "viewing" sites, and talk with experts or others.

What is the hardest thing about implementing the learner-active technology-infused classroom?

  • finding more time to schedule

  • keeping track of every child's progress

  • keeping kids organized

Click here to see a schedule.

What is the best thing about implementing the learner-active technology-infused classroom?

Much more interest and learning taking place. Children are much more independent. Students feel the work they are doing has importance. Seeing the enthusiasm in the class.

Click here to see the Social Studies task on geography mentioned above.

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