demonstrate what they know. This process can include the student
learning new material and then presenting it, or the learning takes
place outside the technology and the tech is used to demonstrate
mastery. =20
With that in mind, I find the teachers use information tools with the
entire class (on LCD projector or interactive whiteboards) - These
include Brainpop, Gizmos (explorelearning), Education City, and
Discovery Streaming.
Kindergarten is the only grade we focus on learning the actual
technology. Students try out as much technology as possible from Word,
to Pixie, Powerpoint, VoiceThread, and Smart Notebook Software (since we
use Smartboards). We use laptops in all grades, so kindergarten is also
the time we make sure everyone can log in, use a trackpad, start and
exit applications, save and retrieve files. A couple times a year we
use things like Education City, but the teachers find it is more
productive for the students to be creating with the technology rather
than doing drill and practice type work.
In 1st - 2nd grades, we start using technology for specific projects,
usually working in small groups, using things like Pixie, Wikis, Word,
and Powerpoint. The teachers also use tech almost daily with things
like the old Fizz and Martina, Brainpop Jr., and Discovery Education
videos. =20
Starting in 3rd and continuing through middle school, the focus is
totally on the curriculum. Students use the laptops when they need
them, but there are rarely times when the entire class is using them at
the same time. For most projects, especially in middle school, students
can use anything they want as long as they fulfill the curriculum
requirements set out by the teacher. So, one group of students might
design a website, another might do a video, a third group might do a
skit that doesn't even use technology. Many of our teachers have
interactive whiteboards, and everyone has an LCD projector, so all the
teachers in 3rd and up use technology pretty much 100% of the time to
teach with.
Nings as well as Google Docs are used regularly in middle school for
teachers to post content, to start and extend classroom discussions, to
create and share documents. =20
I hope this helps.
Renee Ramig
Seven Hills School
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Matt Melnick
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:46 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Good K-8 websites for kids
On Sep 10, 2009, at 11:43 AM, Dave Baker wrote:
> I am looking for sites that teachers feel are more educational than
> "edutainment." Categories for this would be anything from:
>
> Reading
>
>
> Science
>
>
> Math
>
>
> Social studies
>
>
> Logic
>
>
> Problem Solving
>
>
> Other
>
>
>
> If you respond directly to me (dbaker@mttam.org) I will summarize to =20
> the
> list next week.
>
> Thank you for the help,
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> David Baker
> Mount Tamalpais School
> Dean of Technology
> Math Department Chair
> http://www.mttam.org/
> dbaker@mttam.org
>
> [ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
> Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, =20
> attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
> RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons,
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[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
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