Kids as Computers

Title: Kids as Computers
Author: Sherry J. Roberts

This article was about teaching middle school students the process of computers (input, process, output, storage) and working with computers in a 9 week lesson. She put the kids into groups of 4 and allotted a process to each child. Therefore these kids were responsible for their job the entire 9 weeks. Input would get the materials, process would be the group manager, output would deliver feedback and storage would clean up. I thought this idea was great. After reading the article I myself got a better idea of how computers work so I know that it would benefit students in middle school. This allowed her to spend more time doing activities on the computer while they were in their groups instead of wasting time teaching them about the functions of the computer. Since the kids got a hands on and real life example, it was much easier for them to see. I definitely feel that I could apply this concept to other subjects in my classroom.

Q1: What other subjects could I apply this to?
A1: I think you could apply this to a whole range of subjects. I remember back in elementary school we would form groups and each person had a role, whether it be the note taker, the supply getter, the group leader, the vocabulary definer, etc. Everyone had a job and it made school more interesting because we weren't always just sitting in our desk listening to the teacher. I think I could apply this with history and English the most.
Q2: How would group work benefit the children in the future?
A2: Group work definitely makes children want to come to school. They know they have a responsibility and don't want to let their team down. I think it would decrease absences. Also, group work is a part of life all throughout adult hood. Almost all jobs require some sort of group work and task distribution so teaching children how to work efficiently in groups when they are young will help them greatly in the future.