Technology In Our Society

What a Concept! Using Concept Mapping on Handheld Computers

Key Findings: Students increase their ability to relate new information to more general concepts already in use through the use of concept maps. With the maps students develop better understandings of general concepts, and tend to recognize new relationships between them. Though concept maps instructors can determine how well students understand the concept instead of how well they memorize information.

More significant learning can occur if a student has tools that support higher learning and development. Constant and consistent access to handhelds for students can have a positive effect on students learning. Though the usage of handhelds, concept maps are easier to be use on individual student basic when they are made available on these devices. 

The low cost of a handheld provides the opportunity for full time access of technology aid for each student.  And the small size of the handheld allows for easy portability.  Students can pull their handheld out of their book bag or desk any time they need it. Instead of going to the computer lab, students can remain in their classroom to create electronic concept maps. Because of easy access, the students can perform these activities during their TAG sessions if desired. 

Students generally have very positive reactions to using handheld computers. The majority of students prefer to use handheld computers rather than paper and pencil or desktop PC?s. With the handhelds it is easier to move things around and it was faster and easier to get organized more so than using paper and pencil.

As far as a computing device, you get more for your money when purchasing handhelds. Many students are using iPods and other devices in their personal lives so the transition to handheld applications is not that troublesome to learn.

Applying the lesson: In our society today technology is all around us, it is imperative that teachers use the technology available to us to help prepare students to be workplace ready.   I teach Keyboarding to the 6^th graders, Business Computer Technology to the 7^th graders and Exploring Business Technology to the 8^th graders these courses equip students with the fundamentals of the computer.  It is my responsibility to teach students how to use technology and how to relate what they learn to the real world.  Using concept map I can review my student?s conceptual understanding of the material.  I will observe my students create a concept map which can provide instructional feedback for me.   I will use the software application Inspiration more.   I will use Inspiration to help my student?s access prior knowledge, organize their thinking about a topic that?s being discussed, to make predictions and expand links among concepts.  With concept mapping I can incorporate higher level thinking, this is especially true with my gifted students.  During the unit of study students are given a KWL Chart to access prior knowledge before the actual lesson.  When a unit of study is almost over the students are allowed to work with a partner to map out what they have learned.  This has proven to be very effective for the students right before test time.

I use the Inspiration software on several occasion, one way I utilize Inspiration is when my seventh graders write an unbound report about themselves.   I let the students brainstorm about essential questions concerning what are important facts about them.  I then have the students organize their thoughts into a diagram using Inspiration.  Inspiration has proven too beneficial in helping the students see what they are doing.  The seventh graders also use Inspiration when our unit of study is on computer hardware and software.

Posted at 04:52PM Nov 18, 2006 by ljgladne in General  |  Comments[0]