Reflecting on What I Know Assignment- Chapter 1

 The Dictionary meaning of Inquiry is seeking knowledge, information, or truth through asking questions.  Inquiry based learning happens when students are given a problem to solve.  They solve the problem by exploring, gathering data, and analyzing their data to create new knowledge.  The teacher gives information to the students and allows them to explore and form their knowledge.  This has been a prominent way use of teaching in the schools for many years.  Must I use an inquiry-based learning approach in my classroom to use computers as a tool?  No.  A teacher doesn't NEED to use an inquiry-based learning approach.  There are other learning approaches that work effectively, if not better.  We can use Problem-Based Learning or Project-Based Learning as well.  In Problem-Based Learning the student researches and explores to gain knowledge just as they do in Inquiry Learning.  It differs from Inquiry Based learning because the teacher does not provide information to the students.  It is the students job to search and explore to find their answers to the problem.  This is a great way to incorporate technology in the classroom.  The students can work in groups and together solve the problem by exploring and researching together as a team to solve the problem.  Project Based learning is just as good for integrating technology into the classroom.  The students are still given a problem to solve except the end of the project is specific and the teacher acts more like a coach than a facilitator.  All of these methods are great ways to teach students while incorporating technology.

This is the ten-step for planning technology lesson plans for the classroom: 

As you can see, just like Inquiry based learning, the teacher gives the classroom a problem to solve.  This can be formed as a project based learning or problem-based learning just as effectively as inquiry.  It provides activities for the learning session before and after the computer was used as a tool. 
Can I still use tutorials and drill-and-practice software?   Yes, tutorials and drill-and-practice software can still be used but the teacher needs to be sure that it being used correctly so that it is effective in the students learning.  It should not be the only means used for technology in the classroom.  In my opinion, it is very "yesteryear" and there are many other remarkable ways to teach students.  Expecting the students to think outside the box and actually solve problems by exploring for themselves is going to have longer term effects.  I think that drill-and-practice software is probably best for memorization. 

Won't I have to spend a great deal of time to develop these units of instruction? 
Any lesson planning is going to take time!  I was a preschool teacher for several years and part of my job was writing lesson plans for the whole month.  Each month had a theme.  Up front, it took time and I had to pay attention to detail to make sure I met the needs of each of my students.  But after the first year of school was complete, I was able to recycle my lesson plans for the next year making small "tweaks" and fine tuning things that didn't work or adding new ideas that I collected from other teachers.  I think that creating a lesson plan for technology would be the same.  It takes time up front.  But it's something you can use over and over again each year. 

Won't every student need a computer to use it as a tool? 
I think that in a perfect world, it would be wonderful if every student had their own computer in the classroom.  I think it would be beneficial because they would have more hands on experience than if they had to always share the computer with other students.  But it is not completely necessary for every student to have their own computer to use it as a tool.  The NTeQ model specifically created for the classroom situation where students would work in several groups limiting each classroom to 4-6 computers.  This model has been successfully proven to work for groups of students but would also work with individuals as well.