When second graders in a Loudoun County school studied frogs, they observed them in the classroom, watched them lay eggs, and examined the tadpoles. Students then wrote about what they saw and drew pictures to illustrate their work. To organize what they had learned, the teacher created a template that contained spaces for text and drawings and put the template in a network folder that her students could access. Using the template as a guide, they wrote with a word processor and drew with a paint program in the appropriate spaces. She also put the template in a network folder where second graders in other classes could use it, and students' work was posted to the network for all to see.
Templates can also replace paper handouts.
For example, a teacher can create a computer file with practice math problems, turn the file into a template, and put the template in a folder shared by students. Students can open the template and do the work on the computer. If there are enough computers, perhaps in a lab, students can all work on the exercise at the same time. Otherwise, a few students can work on it at a time, while the others work on different activities. Templates can also be used for class tests and quizzes, report cards, letters to parents, etc.