BLOG EIGHT

"When using technology with your students, what are your challenges?  Strengths? What could be done to increase your usage of technology in the classroom?"

I use technology almost every day in my Algebra Extensions classes.  Students use chromebooks and work on a program called Ascend, which has them work on lessons based on their individual needs and levels.  I have also used the chromebooks for partner math games such as jeopardy.  Overall the use of technology in my class works very well.  Students get excited about using laptops, especially when we play games on them.  They are still doing math but the fact that they get to do it on a computer makes them more engaged.  One of the challenges I have is that some students will go on to other websites and will not do the assigned work.  To counteract this issue I have set up a table in the back of my room and students who are working on the computers sit at this table and their computer screens are visible to me so I can make sure that they are on task.  I use a decent amount of technology in my classroom so I don't think I need to increase usage at this point.