KWL, or KWHL, charts are an excellent means of gathering information based on how students feel about a topic of study. Prior to beginning any new lesson in class, I always have my students complete a KWL chart in order to determine what they remember from previous years. It gets to be rather tedious when I have to draw out a KWL chart and then run copies for every unit. I like the idea of having students create a KWL chart using a word processing application, such as the draw tool in Microsoft Word or even Excel. This teaches the students how to use the features within such programs, while enabling them to digitally create and even fill-in their own chart. Once the students have created their charts and filled-in their information, the charts can be printed...saving the teacher a lot of work. The only drawback I see is that my campus doesn't have enough computers (working computers) for all students to use as needed. Students could use the mobile labs, but there is no capability of printing from these mobile labs. I only have one student station in my classroom, so it would take a huge amount of time for them to accomplish this task in the classroom.
Another program that I think would be very helpful in my classroom is Inspiration. I like my students to brainstorm ideas prior to beginning a lesson, as well as throughout. Being that I'm also going to be teaching science this year, I think that Inspiration would be very benifical to my classroom. The students can easily use Inspiration to create various charts or webs for organizing their information. Inspiration could also assist me, and my students in keeping track of our individual and class goals for each lesson or unit of study.
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Once again lack of technology tools creates a problem. If you did have a few more computers in your room, I can see KWHL charts being completed in small groups. Each group could use one computer to collaboate and talk about what they know. This would provide support for weaker students, engage students in collaboration and incorporate technology. If you had a document camera you could create the template as usual and students could share their group charts using the document camera.
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