This presentation provides an overview of how a third grade teacher integrates technology into his teaching to facilitate constructivist teaching.

1. Technology and Teaching
Developing thinkers, collaborators,
and problem solvers
Michael G. Massad, Sr. M.Ed, NBCT
Thursday, April 9, 2009

2. On the menu……
 Constructivistteaching
 Technology: for you; for your students
 Hardware
 Software
 Internet resources
 Project ideas
 Classroom management
 The big picture

3. Constructivist teaching:
Technology integration at its best
Students actively involved in learning

 Students work in responsible groups
 Students have choice
 Students learn in order to solve
problems, i.e., they have a purpose
 Encourages independence and
responsibility
 Encourages thought, analysis, and
discovery

4. Technology:
for you, for your students
 For you:
 “Office”-type suite
To create student materials

 Email
 Internet
Personal Web site

 Research
 For your students:
 All
of the above?
 The activities you design

5. Hardware
 Computer
 DVD capability
 LCD projector
 Document viewer
 sound
 Scanning / printing
 Digital still/video camera

6. Software
“Office”-type suite

Open Office

Web browser

 PhotoStory3 / iphoto
 Movie Maker / imovie
 Inspiration/Kidspiration
 Paint.net
 Third-party software??

7. Internet resources – just a
few!
Teacher/class website

Pbwiki

Scholastic

SpellingCity.com

 Delicious
 Thinkfinity.org
 Reference sites

8. Internet resources:
Mr. Massad’s AISD web page
Provides for daily communication

 Post documents like project
instructions
 Provides links
 Calendar

9. Internet resources:
– like a web page
Wikis
Can be anything you want

Communicate with parents

Allow viewers to add content

Provides for collaboration


10. Internet resources:
SpellingCity.com
You upload your lists

 Students can
practice spelling the
words, play games.
 You can print out
cursive pdfs of your
lists
 It’s free!!

11. Internet resources:
Delicious.com
Allows you to store your favorites online

 Add new favorites from any computer
 Access your favorites from any computer
 Facilitates sharing with collegues

12. Internet resources:
Thinkfinity.org
A portal loaded with lesson plans,

online interactive activities, and
professional development
 Calendar is good for “Today in
History”-type activities.

13. Internet resources:
Others……
Learner.org

Scholastic News

Funbrain.com

Brainpop.com

DiscoveryStreaming

National Geographic Kids

Pdfonline.com

Youtube.com

Teachertube.com

See the Third Grade Web Site’s Teacher Links for more.


14. Project / integration ideas
See my Handouts section for examples and

documents you can download
Book reports

Webquests – example: Solar System

Austin History Project

Books: read alouds; centers

Independent projects

Content videos – DiscoveryStreaming

PowerPoint:

embedded videos

Jeopardy!


15. Classroom management
Depends on the activity

Whole group…..

You or student presenting to class

Each student at a computer in the lab

Each student (or pairs) using laptop from COW

Small group…..

Small groups, each clustered around one computer

Rotations…..

Small groups rotate through 3 or more activities,

one of which is an activity at your class computers
Centers…..

A stand-alone activity


16. The big picture…..
Technology is not supposed to be an “extra”

thing to do
You’re not teaching “Inspiration”…. You are

teaching the water cycle using a webbing tool
At its best, technology enriches teaching that

has students thinking, creating, and
collaborating
At least, technology allows you to create your

own materials and students to create their own
products
Hopefully, it saves you time and effort

Ask for help! There are no bad questions.


17. Contact information…..
Email:

mmassad@austinisd.org

Third Grade Web Site:

http://pattonelementaryschool.schools.officelive.com/de

Mr. Massad’s AISD Web Pages:

http://www.austinisd.org/staff/16
