Summarizing+and+Note+Taking

Technology 1: Microsoft Excel program
[Image Source: http://simply-effective.com/Training/images/Excel_logo.gif]
 * __Rationale__
 * Many students struggle throughout their school years with learning to take notes and being able to summarize important concepts. A new twist on getting students to use fewer words or phrases would be to engage them with an Excel spreadsheet. As a term or concept is learned, students use the boxes to summarize the meaning/definition. For instance if science students are studying the characteristics of living things- they could create a definition on a spreadsheet- placing one word in each space. Teachers can turn it into a contest where students are trying to create the shortest definition possible. This would cause students to really have to think about how to summarize a concept in as few words as possible.


 * __Resources needed by school/Estimated Cost__
 * Computers, Microsoft Excel program- included in Microsoft's XP/Windows software package (no additional cost).

Technology 2: [|www.wordle.net]
[Image Source: http://www.librarybytes.com/uploaded_images/wordle3-791758.JPG]
 * __Rationale__
 * Most students enjoy getting creative with their schoolwork. This free online program ( [|www.wordle.net] ) allows students to take their own words and create visual wordclouds. By getting a chance to be creative, students will be more motivated to learn the important skills of notetaking and summarizing. As students write summaries or take notes from a lecture/reading, they can turn those notes into something fun and creative. Students can also publish their work, so a class could divide an assignment and create their own word cloud study guides or summaries.


 * __Resources needed by school/Estimated Cost__
 * Computers (already in place) and Wordle program (free)- no additional cost to the school.

Technology 3: SMARTBoard
[Image Source: http://flatclassroom09 3.flatclassroomproject.org/file/view/SmartBoard2.jpg/102284847/SmartBoard2.jpg]
 * __Rationale__
 * Students are surrounded by high quality graphics/visuals in their lives and they expect the same at school. By using the SMARTBoard as a tool for notetaking and summarizing, teachers can display high quality visuals for students. Since SMARTBoards can be directly linked to a laptop, a teacher can download colorful, creative visuals and videos to create interest in the topic. No longer are overheads and transparencies necessary, since visuals for any topic can simply be downloaded from the internet. As students' interest level increases, they will also be more motivated to practice notetaking and summarizing.


 * __Resources needed by school/Estimated Cost__
 * SMARTBoards (already installed in classrooms), Teacher Laptops (already purchased)- no additional cost.

Educational Challenge(s)/How One of Technologies Deals with Challenge(s):

 * **STUDENT MOTIVATION**
 * Since not every student enjoys the same format or teaching strategy when it comes to learning, it is important to use different tools and styles in the classroom. Students are motivated in a variety of manners and when teachers make learning fun and interesting- they help students get motivated and/or stay motivated. Many students enjoy thinking 'outside the box', especially adolescents. By using technology tools already in place, in a new way, will make learning interesting and appealing to students. The pieces of technology mentioned do not cost additional dollars to the school, instead they are used in different manners- such as using the Wordle program to give note taking a creative twist. By allowing a different and more creative format, students will be more motivated to work on a mundane skill such as note taking and summarizing.

Resources: NETC. (2005). Focus on Effectiveness: Current Education Challenges. Retrieved April 25, 2010 from []