Akira Igeta
6. Summary
I will state my feelings about this experience
of teaching 4 classes of 4th grade at Moniwadai Elementary School.
It was proven by this experience that by making a postcard, one
can achieve many basic skills and operations of a computer in
a short period of time.
With 2 students working on a computer, it was a wise decision
to have the students switch frequently in short period of time.
We found out that it was best to switch the students very frequently.
We even tried switching every 3 minutes. As long as Supporters
knew what they were doing, there was no problem with that.
It is very difficult for a school to have one teacher watching
several students. So having Senior volunteers come to school to
teach its student had been a great experience for both, the school
and for Senior Net Club.
Most Senior Supporters are seniors who have learned how to use
a computer a year or two years ago. We cannot expect them to learn
as quickly as the young ones.
But Senior Supporters are able to teach and pass down their knowledge
by having a goal and a plan of what to teach. We thank the school
for giving us an opportunity and a challenge to teach the young
students.
The key to the success was the clause relationship we had with
the school. Because we were able to exchange opinions with school
teachers before PC class started, we were able to build trust
toward each other and was able to solve problems when they occurred.
The problems we had with computers and printers were easily solved
if one had known the operation process of the machines. This showed
that the communications between the teachers are very important
to succeed.
Our aim for the Fourth graders were to "Getting used to computers"
so we avoided teaching them the operations of Windows 95. We have
to come up with different types of teaching methods to 5th, 6thgraders
and 1st and 2nd graders because the level that we want them to
be is different. I felt that we need to come up with that solution
next.
The problem that the school now faces is to come up with ways
and a curriculum to teach its students. They have to test which
materials work the best for which grade. They also have to see
how they can involve computers to other classes.
I received many letters from Oshima Elementary School and Moniwadai
Elementary School thanking the Senior Net Club. "I started to
like using the computer because a guy like my grandfather taught
me how to use it very kindly and patiently. " Letters like this
one, made all of us at Senior Net Club very happy.
As the equipment and teaching styles at the school change in time,
what organization like Senior Net Club can offer will change dramatically.
We feel the need to realize the changes that are taking place
and will be trying to improve ourselves.
At last, we would like to thank Sendai City Teacherfs Club, Moniwadai
Elementary School, Moniwadai Post office, Hariu Printing Company,
Microsoft Corporation and others for helping us.
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