Following are descriptions of Teaching With Technology grants approved for the 2001-2002 school year.
Wireless laptops to Support the Grade VI Writing Curriculum
Teacher(s): Alice Lucey, Kathy Coen, Allison Webster
Description:
Alice, Kathy, and Allison would like to do a significant amount of work with the grade 6 writing curriculum. As part of their formalization of this curriculum, they will incorporate the iBooks (and the PA400 computer lab) in a number of ways. Having dedicated computer resources so that students have consistent and regular writing experiences will be a significant positive impact on their writing skills.
The iBook cart will be housed permanently in PA400 (or perhaps in the hall outside of the elevator). The Airport access points (wireless network devices) will be permanently installed in PA400 so that they can server all three classrooms equally well. In addition, having access to a projector and one shared Powerbook will facilitate the sharing of student work in the classroom. Alternately, they can use the projector in the new computer lab to share student work.
Alice, Kathy, and Allison will begin brainstorming the curriculum issues and then will meet with Tom to discuss ways in which the iBooks and projector can support their goals. During the year, Tom (or members of the Technology Department) will meet weekly, or perhaps every other week, to solve problems and facilitate the classroom technology. In the beginning, a member of the Technology Department will be present at all sessions in which the iBooks are used. As the teachers feel more confident, they will take more and more responsibility for the computers. Tom will work with them to define a reservation system to make sure that the computers are available when required.
It is useful to note that most of these grade 6 students have already used the iBooks last year in grade 5.
Technology to Support Music Instruction
Teacher(s): Greg Lyons
Description:
Greg is exploring ways in which he can use computer technology to support the teaching of music. We have installed a Macintosh G4 computer with MIDI keyboard and sound system. Software which he is using ranges from professional music sequencing software to skills-based practice software. An example of the kinds of activities Greg has been incorporating into his classes is the creation of various instrumental parts for his Jazz Band using music sequencing software. Then members of the band can use these parts as accompaniment for their particular parts. A similar program Greg has used is “Band in a Box” which allows the student to remove certain parts from a complete musical performance, which allows them to participate with a complete ensemble, even though they may be practicing by themselves or in small groups.
Greg has attended several computer workshops for music teachers, and is sharing his new skills with the other members of his department. Greg will share them with the entire faculty in the spring.
Making Books with Computer Tools
Teacher(s): Dorothea Black
Description:
Dorothea would like to do a model project with selected lower school grades (e.g., Kindergarten and grade 2) in which students and teacher “publish” their own books using computer tools. She spent last summer learning Filemaker basics. Filemaker would be an excellent medium for this project.
Dorothea will make a book template. There will be up to 12 records, each containing fields for a picture, sound recording, text block, and one or more other fields for students/teachers to specify the order of the records in the finished book. The finished book will contain 16 pages ( 6-8 pictures, 8-10 text pages including title page, etc. = 2 sheets printed 2 sides).
Teachers will take a collection of pictures using the library digital camera. These images will be inserted into the database. They may have to be edited in some way before inserting. Then students, with guidance from teachers, decide upon the 8 pictures they want, and their order. Children record a statement about each picture. The teacher then transcribes the text into the database. Then there are easy ways to print a layout suitable for creating a physical book which is cut and assembled by the students. There is also a layout for viewing on the screen.
Dorothea would like to start with either grade K or 1, and also with the reading specialist.
Full-time, dedicated classroom presentation system and faculty laptop to support the Science program
Teacher(s): Karen Manning
Description:
Last summer, Karen spent 4 days in a Science teachers’ conference in Maine, sponsored by Tufts University. In addition she borrowed an iBook computer and practiced numerous skills including PowerPoint, Hyperstudio, Inspiration, Graphical Analysis, Timeliner, and others. Karen was inspired by the presentation of previous TWT participants, especially Sarah Jenning’s work with PowerPoint.
Karen would like to have full-time use of a laptop and presentation system for her classroom. In addition to putting the skills she has already learned into practice, she would like to develop experience in cooperative science projects with other classrooms throughout the world (e.g., worldwide weather data gathering). Karen will share her work with Park teachers, thereby encouraging them to integrate technology into their teaching.
Computer Simulations in the Growth Education Curriculum
Teacher(s): Margo Smith and grade 7 Growth Education Teachers
Description:
Margo and the Grade 7 Growth Education teachers will do a “mini-project” which will introduce the program “Decisions Decisions: Substance Abuse” prior to their work with Freedom From Chemical Dependency. This project will include a workshop in which the teachers will take part in the simulation and discuss classroom implementation issues.
Digital tools for display of student artwork, and to support student self-evaluation
Teacher(s): Gerry Phinisee
Description:
Gerry’s grant proposal is in two parts. Part 1 involves using a digital camera to take pictures of student art and publishing it on the school web site. This would be a “virtual art gallery” or “art department news letter”. Part 2 is a project in which students assess their own progress using a FileMaker Pro database in which they type text, record voice, and copy photos taken with the digital camera. Tom would create most of the Filemaker database to Gerry’s specifications.
Gerry would meet with a member of the Technology Department weekly to help solve problems and learn new skills. Gerry would also share his work with colleagues in the Art Department throughout the year, and at a full faculty meeting in May.
Investigation of software to support the Modern Language curriculum
Teacher(s): Valerie Yoshimura, Liga Aldins
Description:
Valerie and Liga would like to review and try out current educational software for French and Spanish instruction. Starting from a quick survey of the software that is being successfully used by colleagues in schools similar to Park, they will list a number of promising titles. They will also review the current offerings from publishers, and do some online research.
Promising software will be ordered on a 30-day review policy, and reviewed by Liga and Valerie. They may also try the software in their classrooms as part of the review.
The grant allows for the purchase of some software that will become part of the regular curriculum. Their goal is to craft appropriate integration of the best of these software programs without disrupting the existing culture of their classrooms, and the existing formal curriculum already established by the department. For example, the software may provide alternative ways to present topics within the classroom, or alternative ways for students to practice outside of the classroom.
Valerie and Liga will meet with someone from the Technology Department from time to time to report on progress, receive feedback and suggestions, and to solve problems. At the end of this project, they will share their work with the rest of the faculty at a special TWT presentation.
