Video Case Analysis

http://www.edutopia.org/video/movie.php?reset=cookie&keyword=137&id=Art_1127

This video was titled Laptops on Expedition. It was about a middle school in Maine that integrated using technology into their school to create a CD-ROM. They integrated math, science, art, music, English into their CD-ROM, which allowed each kid a way to express themselves in whatever interested them. The finished CD-ROM was handed out to each student to take home and cherish.
In this video, the students used laptops, digital cameras, digital video cameras, scanners, computer software, and editing programs to complete their CD-ROM. This technology was student-centered because the students were the ones that were using the technology. The students were performing the hands-on activities in order for the CD-ROM to be created; the teachers were just there to offer a helping hand. The students were the ones deciding what would go on the CD-ROM as well. The technology makes the lesson more engaging because it gets every kid involved in the learning process. A straight lecture would not get every kid involved, and since it integrates all the subjects it makes it interesting to every student, no matter their interests. To prepare for this lesson, the teacher would need to get all the materials necessary and plan out what was going to be done each day in order to create the CD-ROM. From a technology stand point, the teacher needs to get all the cameras, computers, and software necessary to complete the assignment. From a pedagogy standpoint, the teacher needs to learn how to incorporate the technology into the lesson to make the lesson more meaningful.
Some strategies I would use to assess student performance would be to ask them questions about how the CD-ROM was made and question the steps it took them to complete the CD-ROM. Also, I would ask them what they learned from the situation, and hope that they would be able to explain everything in detail about what they learned from this experience. The advantage to using the technology in the lesson is that it allowed the students to use hands-on activities to learn. Kids learn best when they can perform tasks hands-on because it allows them to see it happening right in front of their eyes. So, by using technology the teacher allowed the students to learn better and allowed them to learn with understanding. Challenges that the teachers and students might face when integrating technology into the classroom would be that the teacher might not know how to use all of the technology, so it might be hard for the teacher to incorporate this technology into a lesson. Also, integrating technology can be time consuming and this might take time away from the students learning. This would not be beneficial for the students because they would not be receiving a full education. Another problem might be funding. Not all schools can afford to have all the up-to-date technology in their classroom. Public schools especially have trouble finding the money to but such devices as video cameras, digital cameras and lap tops. This would make this lesson very difficult if these pieces of equipment were not available. Overall, I think this lesson was a good one and that it helped the students learn more in-depth about the topic they were studying. I think the students enjoyed it as well, which is a key part of the learning process.