As we strive to use technology effectively, how can we answer the question, "In what ways can technology be used for something greater than information gathering or personal productivity?" Intel believes that they have an answer in their online Thinking Tools. Intel’s committment to education is focused on constructivism, as is clearly demonstrated in the Seymour Papert quote on their web site: “Better learning will not come from finding better ways for the teacher to instruct but from giving the learner better opportunities to construct.” These Thinking Tools can allow students flexibility and power in constructing their own learning. And they're free!!
Three online tools are available: the Visual Ranking Tool, the Seeing Reason Tool, and the Showing Evidence Tool. The Visual Ranking Tool allows students to rank order their ideas about a particular idea or topic. Once they have placed their thoughts in order, they can comment on why that particular order was chosen. One of the most powerful dimensions of the tool is a comparison feature which will visually show the corellation of one student's order to that of another. This could open the class up for further discussion, or allow students to create their own broad, overarching questions about a topic -- any topic, any subject.
The Seeing Reason Tool looks like a graphic organizer (such as Inspiration), allowing students to create a web of ideas. An added feature is the ability to draw relationships between ideas - what influence does one idea have on another? These types of relationships are represented by arrows of varying thickness.
The Showing Evidence Tool guides students through developing an argument. Students gather information about various views on an issue, then document and analyze those sources, finally making their own determination on the issue at hand. This can be a powerful tool to prepare students to write persuasively -- an all important skill for PSSA tests, college life, and real life!
Intel has provided teachers with lots of resources for each tool (which you can find linked on their site): example lessons, example units, a demonstration, and ideas on how to integrate the tools into original lessons. I like how these digital tools focus on good teaching: developing good questions and focusing on big ideas. They also have the flexibility to be used individually or within a larger group setting. I hope Intel will keep adding to these interactive online Thinking Tools. Let me know if you think you'd like to try one or more of the Intel Thinking Tools in your classroom.
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