Setting the Scene-
The following is a fake scenario used to identify knowledge of hardware and software.
My principal has just come in and told me that I can choose one, and only one, software program for my classroom computer. I went to http://www.k12software.com/ to make my software selection. I chose a program called, “50 Quick and Easy Math Computer Activities,” by Visions Technology. I thought it would be an appropriate fit for my 3rd grade classroom as the math activities are aligned to the NCTM standards so it would be easy for me to demonstrate my students’ growth from using the program. The first thing I have to check is the specifications of my school computer. They are as follows:
Operating System- Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Processor- AMD Athlon™ II Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs M300, 2.00 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, Up to 3.2 GT/s system bus running at AC/DC mode 35 watt
Memory- 3072 MB
Screen resolution- 1600 X 1200 pixels
Graphic Subsystem- ATI Radeon HD 4200 Graphics
Video RAM- 128 MB Display Cache Memory AMD M880G with 128B GDDR2 (sideport memory)
Pre-installed software- HP DVD Play, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Adobe® Acrobat Reader, HP Games Powered by Wild Tangent
Disc drive- CD/DVD
Memory card device- 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
Then I needed to see if the software I chose would run on my computer. The software requirements said that you must be able to play a CD-ROM to access the CD portion of the program. The system requirements for Windows were 4 MB RAM and Windows 98 or higher. It also requires Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Inspiration, and Kidspiration to play all components of the program.
I did not have any trouble installing this program on my school computer because my RAM and operating system were compatible and the CD plays automatically when I put it in, and since my computer has the Internet, I can use all the web-based portions of the program. However, my school computer did not have Inspiration or Kidspiration. I could not access 4 activities on the program, “Category Corners, Patterns, Venn Diagram, or What Shape Am I?” To troubleshoot this problem I would have to pay $69 to download Kidspiration from the Inspiration website or see if my school had access to it already for me to install.
I did not have any trouble installing this program on my school computer because my RAM and operating system were compatible and the CD plays automatically when I put it in, and since my computer has the Internet, I can use all the web-based portions of the program. However, my school computer did not have Inspiration or Kidspiration. I could not access 4 activities on the program, “Category Corners, Patterns, Venn Diagram, or What Shape Am I?” To troubleshoot this problem I would have to pay $69 to download Kidspiration from the Inspiration website or see if my school had access to it already for me to install.
My Reading
This week I read Chapter 4 of Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom to learn more about hardware. The text defines hardware as the “electronic and mechanical equipment that makes up a computer.” (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010, p. 560) The chapter describes specific “hardware components used for input, processing, output, and storage.” (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010, p. 201) After reading through the chapter, module, and completing the scenario, I realized that I did not really know very much about hardware. Most of the time, I do not even think about the components of my computer. I just expect everything to work on my computer, and if something doesn’t work, most of the time a program will tell me why. For example, in my scenario, some programs did not work because I did not have Kidspiration or Inspiration installed on my computer. If I have I problem like that with software, I can usually just download the appropriate program, but I do not often have issues with hardware so I rarely even think about it.
In addition to learning that it is a good idea to know your hardware, I also learned what many of the acronyms I use everyday actually stand for. For example, I did not know that RAM stood for random access memory or USB stood for universal serial bus port. (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly) I think it is important as teachers to make sure we pay attention to words like this that we are using everyday and make sure we know what they mean. It is good for us to model to our students that we care enough to learn more about technology and are not just ok with not knowing. Hopefully this will motivate them to want to learn more and not just think that what they already know is good enough. I am in complete agreement with the book’s statement that teachers need to emphasize “the importance of being able to transfer current knowledge when learning new technologies.” (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010, p. 239) I hope to encourage my students to use what they already know to help them learn even more.
Resources
Gunter, G. A., Gunter, R. E., & Shelly, G.B. (2010). Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom (6th ed.). United States
HP Specifications. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/WF06b/321957-321957-3329743-3848802-3848802-3999415-4041455.html.
Inspiration Software Inc. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from http://store.inspiration.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=39.
K12 Software- 50 Quick & Easy Math Computer Activities. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from http://www.k12software.com/view_details.php?PHPSESSID=aa726d87c2d3b17e2bf9d90d264fc249&ID=3104.
You stated that “I realized that I did not really know very much about hardware. Most of the time, I do not even think about the components of my computer.” I too have never thought much about how my computer works or for that matter why it runs certain programs. I just turn on the computer and go about the tasks that I normally do (email, Google, Webcourse…). Luckily, when something goes wrong with the computer I call my husband who is a computer engineer to fix it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a positive statement you made when you said “I hope to encourage my students to use what they already know to help them learn even more”. I think this is a wonderful goal for all teachers no matter the subject they are teaching. I remember reading how important it is to reinforce when a student goes beyond what is expected of them. Incorporating even the smallest amount of praise can inspire the student to continue to dive a little deeper to bring enlightenment to difficult material.
I noticed that you may have overlooked the requirements of Microsoft Office. It doesn’t appear that Microsoft Office, or any of its core components, is on the list of pre-installed software. Without these applications, I’m not sure that you would be able to use all aspects of the “50 Quick and Easy Math Computer Activities,” by Visions Technology.
You mentioned how you just "expect everything to work" on your computer. I laughed when I read that, because I totally agree. What good are computers if they can't work. And like you said, the program will either tell me how to fix it, or i'll go to the computer person that I know and have them fix it.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to "have" to read about the hardware of my computer. I didn't even know how to find the specification of my computer, so even that was a new step for me. I also think that we as teachers need to know about our computers, so if the students have a question, or if a problem arises we can help them.
Megan H
Your program sounds like your students would enjoy it. I also like how you incorporated it with the NCTM standards; so many times we focus on FCAT we lose focus that the FCAT is based of NCTM standards also. It also sounds as if it is a program that would give you great formative data of the students if they are understanding a topic or not. That data can be a very powerful tool that we can show our administrators, coaches and parents.
ReplyDelete