Technology as a Tool in Elementary Guidance Counseling

1. Technology as a Tool in Elementary Guidance Counseling Meghan Moran Click on my picture to see a video greeting! Meghan’s Website: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/megm/

2. Introduction • The elementary school guidance counselor can use computer and other media technology to improve on theirguidance lessons, groupandindividual sessions. • Counselors can search the Internet for a multitude of topics,ideas, guidelines and support from others in their field. • With the expansion of Internet use and email capabilities, school aged children are understanding and utilizing technology in the classroom more than ever before.

3. “What are School Counselor’s doing with Technology?” • This was the question posed by Russell A. Sabella, Ph.D. on his website, www.schoolcouneslor.com on May 25, 2005. • He asks counselors to respond with stories that go beyond the basics of general Word or PowerPoint use. • Click on the picture to visit the site!

4. Interesting Responsesfrom School Counselors • “One way I use technology to reduce new student anxiety is through e-mail with the previous school teachers and/or counselors. New students are able to send e-mail from my office computer, and their teachers are often willing to deliver messages to friends they left behind who have no access to email.” • “I use an online Survey (www.freeonlinesurvey.com) to do my end of the year staff evaluation of my program. The staff survey saved so much time, tabulating the data and making the charts.” • “Over the years we have graphed the responses to anger management interviews with community workers. We compiled a large bulletin board of effective ways to "cope with anger".

5. Guidance Counselors Online! • The following slides will highlight some great websites for guidance counselors. • By simply pointing, clicking, and occasionally downloading, the school counselor has the power to find almost anything that they are looking for.

6. “School Counselor Resources” • This site includes printable forms for use in classroom observation, awards, certificates, documentation logs and other similar forms. • This website has a variety of interesting PowerPoint presentations for use in the elementary guidance setting. Some examples of useful presentations include: • Behavior Management • Study Skills II • The Class Clown Click Below to visit the site!

7. More Resources! • While there is a variety of free software available, there may be situations where there is a need to purchase guidance materials. • The site sells books, posters,videos/DVDs, charts and reproduciblesfor use in elementary, middle and high schools. • This site has a search feature, which allows the user to look for a variety of different products for specific topics. Click above to visit the site!

8. Teacher’s Info-Port to Technology • “From digital cameras and scanners to word processors and multimedia packages, educators have a wide range of tools available to help in the teaching and learning process.” • “Explore the site areas learn about how to use and integrate each of the following technologies.” Click the picture to visit the site!

9. Barriers to Using Technology • Statistically, 34% of elementary school counselors cited the lack of time and high/multiple job demands as the primary barrier to using technology. • Also, their lack of familiarity, skills, practice, and training with computers was the second most frequently mentioned barrier identified by 25% of Elementary school counselors • Some frequently reported problems are: • Software availability and/or access issues • Old/slow computers • Server Problems Click the computer to visit the site

10. Barriers Reported by Elementary Counselors • Paper trail requirements/large amounts of paperwork • Counselors get the technology/computer "leftovers" (classrooms/teaching have the priority • Limited resources (including no digital camera, digital video camera, or scanner). • Student/parent/faculty/counselor preference for face-to-face contact - the "personal touch"; preference for pen and paper rather than computer.

11. Conclusion • The goal of the elementary school guidance counselor is to promote the education of young children through social and behavioral interventions. • Using media such as digital camera’s and video equipment to help children relate to different situations can be a great way to help them learn how to treat others. • The immense social network found on the Internet can help counselors locate and benefit from colleagues all over the world, allowing them to share ideas and stories.

12. Follow Up Action • The school guidance counselor has the responsibility to abide by the ethical guidelines described by the American School Counselors Association • Ethical standard A.10.-Technology addresses the correct usage of media in the educational setting. Click above to visit the site!

13. In Closing… • Please click on the links below to view all completed assignments. • Website Evaluations • Research Excerpts File • Internet Address Book • Research Paper • Scanned Text • Scanned Picture Click on the ducks to hear an audio message!!