[YL] Involving Youth in Technology
CJ
coastalmist at verizon.net
Thu Mar 3 13:34:03 EST 2005
My husband is a third grade teacher and he has taught students Power
Point and he has created interactive Smart Board games that go along
with what he is teaching. The children also enjoy games he has created
for the PC that bring their school assignments into it. The girls
participate as well as the boys. His classroom could use updated
computers and an after-school program that followed what he is doing in
the classroom. This would benefit those that fall behind.
Often times those who fall behind do not have access to computers at
home but usually, these students-in-need (at-risk assumes too much) will
not be doing any homework anyway. It has been my experience that the
student who needs the most help benefits from doing it before, during or
after school. Once they are at home, their world seems to be
unstructured and perhaps chaotic but not always due to "bad" things
going on in the home.
If volunteers could learn what the students need for their classroom
success (working with individual teachers), this information could be
set up using computers and various software. Show them fun and how to
figure out what they want or need to know and they will do better.
Another thing that helps is when volunteers become mentors. Then the
kids know they will not be dropped.
Lastly, kids usually do best when there is food to eat. When I was
doing after-school tutoring (supervising too), we offered a snack. Kids
are hungry a lot. In our current county, we have starving and under-fed
children, where drug abuse is high as is child abuse, poverty and
unemployment. But enough of our children are hungry regardless of their
surrounding situations that there are breakfasts before school and the
local Boys & Girls Club offers after-school snacks. The USDA can help
with this... A hungry child has a hard time focusing in on tasks.
Recap: Offer pertinent assistance with mentors, fun and food and they
will come. Once they are having a good time, they will want to learn more.
CJ Logan
Coquille Youth Activities
Teacher's Wife
youthlearn-request at milhouse.edc.org wrote:
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>Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: ymca::kids::computers (Rodney Chatham)
> 2. Re: ymca::kids::computers (LizaJennifer at aol.com)
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject:
> Re: [YL] ymca::kids::computers
> From:
> "Rodney Chatham" <r.chatham at worldnet.att.net>
> Date:
> Tue, 1 Mar 2005 19:57:48 -0500
> To:
> <youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org>
>
> To:
> <youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org>
>
>
> Yes all students need to be fluent in technology to be successful.
> And the at-risk student needs the most technology use- 24-7 tech
> access- so that he or she can "catch up" and close the ever increasing
> gap.
> Teachers can now individually prescribe to each student to strengthen
> weaknesses before the student is trapped in perpetual failure. Yet
> the at-risk student needing heavy telecom use is also often the
> student who has little or no access to the needed technology.
> How do we meet this challenge, to supply the digital inclusion so that
> no child is left behind?
>
> Rod Chatham
> Tech Corps Ga.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* MEFurnas at aol.com <mailto:MEFurnas at aol.com>
> *To:* youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org
> <mailto:youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 01, 2005 6:28 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [YL] ymca::kids::computers
>
> If we don't get children interested in computers NOW, then WHEN?
> Failure in teaching computers to children - historical? My sense
> is that our teachers often struggle with having to accomplish so
> much in the day, like trying to manage the duties of
> teaching, NCLB, and at the same time are expected to integrate
> computer learning modules - which they may have not had training
> to do. Instructional Access (www.instructionalaccess.com
> <http://www.instructionalaccess.com>) offered a great summer
> resort-type for teachers in the summer where the teachers got up
> to speed with technology in the classroom and received a free
> lap-top. Hotel was included in the cost which was reasonable.
>
> My thinking is that students, both male and female, need the hands
> on experience of computers both for the sake of "technology"
> (increased math and science interest occurs), and applications of
> software. My grandson who is six is on one computer in my office
> and I on another. He does all kinds of learning programs, and he
> also has access to an old computer where he learns what the
> internal components are (so he doesn't take apart mine!) When I
> have a granddaughter she will have the same opportunities. He
> doesn't have this option in the classroom at school.
>
> We need after school programs that have opportunities for kids to
> more deeply explore computers from both the technology career
> side, and applications. They won't be prepared for their future
> if we don't.
>
> Mary
>
> In a message dated 2/22/2005 4:46:58 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> SWright at salesforce.com writes:
>
> Why do you want to work with kids and computers?
>
> There is a long history of failure in education of teaching
> computers to
> youth. This is a sure fail approach. If technology is the
> reason you
> want to work with technology then you will only get kids who are
> interested in technology.
>
> Anybody remember how painful handwriting class was?
>
> To horrifically overgeneralize, teching technology falls into two
> categories: 1) workforce development 2) communication
>
> It is technology a communications tool that is most
> interesting to me.
> However, it is only interesting if the young people that I am
> working
> with have something to say.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: youthlearn-bounces at milhouse.edc.org
> [mailto:youthlearn-bounces at milhouse.edc.org] On Behalf Of
> Brady Mitchell
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 2:10 PM
> To: youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org
> Subject: RE: [YL] ymca::kids::computers
>
> Here are some suggestions:
>
> --kids are not motivated to use the computers
>
> Find ways to integrate the computers into other activities you are
> doing. Even though kids are
> generally very comfortable with technology, they sometimes run
> the other
> way when they hear
> "technology" or "computers" because they associate it with the
> boring
> stuff they do in school.
>
> --only 3 computers are functional..and are old (win98)
>
> Are any of your kids good with computers, and would be willing
> to help
> repair broken computers? Is
> there someone in the community who would be willing to come teach
> classes on computer repair?
>
> If there is a university near by you might check and see if
> they have
> surplus sales of old
> equipment. Many universities replace the computers in their
> labs every
> couple of years, so though
> they are not brand new, they are usually fairly good computers.
>
> --we don't really have a set computer time
>
> I don't think that is necessary, if you find ways to integrate
> computer
> use into other things that
> you do.
>
> --What would be "beginning" exercises/activities that
> incorporate both
> computer and noncomputer
> tasks?
>
> Geography is a great one. You can learn how to use maps and a
> compass,
> then move on to using a GPS
> unit to find your way around an area or do a scavenger hunt.
> After GPS
> you can move into GIS and
> learn how maps are created on computers. Go to
> http://utah4h.org and
> click on "GIS" and "GPS" under
> "Featured Programs" for some good links.
>
> --what keeps kids attention at this age?
>
> Hands-on activities are best. There are some good open source
> programs
> for kids like Tux Typing for
> teaching typing (http://tuxtype.sf.net) and TuxPaint for painting
> (http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/).
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> Brady Mitchell
> Utah 4-H Technology Programs
> National 4-H Technology Team Advisor
>
> http://utah4-h.org
> http://ut4htech.org bradym at ext.usu.edu
>
> http://4-h.org (435)797-2838
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: youthlearn-bounces at milhouse.edc.org
> [mailto:youthlearn-bounces at milhouse.edc.org] On Behalf Of
> matt crichton
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 2:16 PM
> To: youthlearn at phoenix.edc.org
> Cc: dave.gildersleeve at gmail.com
> Subject: [YL] ymca::kids::computers
>
> hi there
>
> I am working with the oak square ymca....david is one of the group
> leaders.
> Here are some issues we are dealing with...has anybody faced
> similar
> things..or have any suggestions?
> thanks.
> matt
>
> --grade 3-4: 12 kids
> --grade 5-6: 6 kids
> --only 3 computers are functional..and are old (win98)
> --kids are not motivated to use the computers
> --we don't really have a set computer time
> --What would be "beginning" exercises/activities that
> incorporate both
> computer and noncomputer tasks?
> --what keeps kids attention at this age?
>
> ==================================
> Matt Crichton
> CyberY Developer
> YMCA Boston/Training, INC.
> 617-542-1800 x32
> mcrichton at ymcaboston.org
> bigchainring at hotmail.com
> Cyber Y:
> http://www25.brinkster.com/ymcaboston/index.htm
> Personal: http://www20.brinkster.com/bigchainring/index.htm
> AmeriCorps VISTA 2000-2002 (Seattle, Boston)
>
> One of the illusions of life||
> is that the present hour is not the critical,||
> decisive hour. Write it on your heart||
> that every day is the best day of the year.||
> Ralph Waldo Emerson
>
>
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> YouthLearn (http://www.youthlearn.org) brings together youth
> professionals to share information on using technology to
> create exciting learning environments. YouthLearn was created
> by the Morino Institute (http://www.morino.org) and is now an
> Initiative at the Education Development Center
> (http://www.edc.org). We hope this list assists you in your
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>
> Mary Furnas
> 5601 Hunts Drive
> Lincoln, NE 68512-1189
> 402-421-4601 home
> 402-770-8967 cell
> mefurnas at aol.com
>
> /Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a
> tree a long time ago./*
> *
>
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> /Warren Buffet/
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> YouthLearn (http://www.youthlearn.org) brings together youth
> professionals to share information on using technology to create
> exciting learning environments. YouthLearn was created by the
> Morino Institute (http://www.morino.org) and is now an Initiative
> at the Education Development Center (http://www.edc.org). We hope
> this list assists you in your efforts to make a difference in the
> lives and potential of young people.
>
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> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject:
> Re: [YL] ymca::kids::computers
> From:
> LizaJennifer at aol.com
> Date:
> Wed, 02 Mar 2005 11:52:32 -0500
> To:
> youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org
>
> To:
> youthlearn at milhouse.edc.org
>
>
>That's a difficult question to answer because it is true that a child needs guidance along with the access to computers. I would encourage the students to utilize the libraries. Maybe provide a list of all the libraries that have computer labs and encourage the children to practice assignments for basic office tech skills like Microsoft Word or WordPerfect before going on the internet. In a matter of 2 months, all my students learned basic to intermediate skills of Microsoft Word. There were 250 members during the summer program and each student had only 20 minutes of computer time which was enough time to complete the assignments. Students also learned typing skills in 2 months and only had to continue to practice to build up speed. I didn't utilize the software which can be distracting, I gave them sheets with Typing Drills. It worked
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>YouthLearn (http://www.youthlearn.org) brings together youth professionals to share information on using technology to create exciting learning environments. YouthLearn was created by the Morino Institute (http://www.morino.org) and is now an Initiative at the Education Development Center (http://www.edc.org). We hope this list assists you in your efforts to make a difference in the lives and potential of young people.
>
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