By Janie Holt
Have you ever considered using a Nintendo DS with your special education students to individualize instruction in your classroom? I hadn’t until I attended a presentation at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA)
The presenter was Christina Carrion, a kindergarten teacher from Garland, Texas. Ms. Carrion successfully uses the Pictochat feature of the DS to ability group her students.
Pictochat has four different chat rooms in which to place students. The students in each chat room can be working on
different tasks at the same time. The DS allows for the interconnectivity of group members within a 50 feet radius. That means that students within one ability group do not have to sit in the same area or around the same table. Nor is the teacher bound by his or her location to the group.
Light Bulb Reaction
Ok, she got my attention! Being able to interface with any student, from anywhere in the classroom is HUGE! My mind was reeling with the possibilities:
–providing instant feedback for each student
–direct reteach without the need for other group members to wait
–an invisible vehicle that allows each student to respond at his or her own pace
–the timely delivery of lesson extensions for teachable moments
Lesson Ideas
But what kinds of lessons can be used with a Nintendo DS? Ms. Carrion has a plethora of ideas to share. She uses the DS technology for:
–handwriting practice
–small group assessment
–skill intervention
–note taking
–WebQuests
–collaboration on projects
–writing summaries
–and MORE!
Go check it out yourself at her website:
https://gblog.garlandisd.net/users/cmcarrio/weblog/2b8e6/Yo_Ho__Yo_Ho_a_DSing_We_Will_Go_.html
DS is not just for gaming anymore. If you’re using any of these ideas in your classroom, please post your ideas here.
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Janie Hohlt
Janie Hohlt is a technology content director and product development specialist for PCI Education. Hohlt has authored several other educational print and software programs for PCI, including the Basic Writing Series. During her 20 years as a classroom educator, Hohlt taught at every grade level from kindergarten through sixth grade. She received the Superintendent’s Award four times while serving in a large urban school district in San Antonio, Texas.