The 2007 - 2011 Technology Plan (pdf file) lays out the driving force behind our technology activities.
Take a look at the K - 3 technology benchmarks (pdf) for our Ormondale students. These benchmarks combine input from our teachers with the National Education Technology Standards (http://cnets.iste.org/).
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Thought for the month
Check out this months article. Comments? Email me and I will post them. If we get enough responses, we can set up a blog. If you have an article to share, please send it to me or point me to the website.
Take a look at 21st Century skills presented by Learning Point Associates. Follow it up with this short position piece.
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Computer Lab at recess
Students are invited to the lab during morning recess everyday except Wednesday. Friday is "Fun Friday," when students can play several school-appropriate games. Their favorite are the ones found on funbrain. Besides a general game arcade, there is a math specific one that can be used to practice basic math skills.
Other days, students work on their Scratch projects, visit worldwide sites with Google Earth, create photo or video albums with Photo Booth or iMovie, create tunes with Garageband, or draw in KidPix. An interactive puzzle is displayed on the interactive whiteboard. Students take turns with the special pens while they collaborate to solve the puzzles.
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Tech News
We now have three interactive whiteboards with the installation of our newest one in the computer lab. All teachers will have the opportunity to develop lessons that utilize the board. Students share the board during recess, collaborating on puzzles or math problems.
Document cameras are making their appearance at Ormondale. The camera is really an extension to the projector, allowing teachers to project hardcopy pages onto the screen or whiteboard. Not only are books, newspapers, magazines now available for easy viewing, but also student work! Furthermore, teachers can now demonstrate activities on the same paper as the students have in front of them - no need for leaps of faith between the whitebaord and the desk.
Continue to look here for what is happening as the school year progresses.
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Special Projects
We are always involved with a myriad of tech projects.
Five students from Mrs. Bertolina's class are collaborating on a video project, turning our reduse-reuse-recycle Pride Assembly into a DVD feature film.
Ms. Jacquot's young learners (first and second graders) are creating short animated music videos with Scratch and Garageband. Check out our Scratch page in the near future for their productions.
Students from all the third grade classes have been creating some entertaining games in Scratch. Mrs. Bertolina has one group creating a math game for their little buddies (first graders) and kinders.
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Computer Use Responsibilities
Please review the computer use agreement with your children every now and then. If you do not have a copy of the agreement, here it is: NUP. Two important items to review are the playing of inappropriate games and downloading programs, usually games. |