Cordination+of+Technology+Skills+-+Mission

Evaluate the coordination of technology skills with other disciplines, especially math and science.

Science Department
 * __ Skills Integration __**
 * __ Lower School __**
 * Students use laptops to research topics during some studies
 * Teacher uses SmartBoard during class discussions
 * Teacher uses Digital Blue Magnifying tool during some studies

Math
 * Geometry - grades 1-4 uses programs related to geometry studies
 * Grade 4 learns basics of Geometer's Sketchpad as part of geometry lessons
 * Skills practice - grades 1-4 use Math Blaster for review and practice of math skills
 * Classes use the Graph Club to create and analyze graphs
 * 4th grade reinforces math concepts through their video project
 * 3rd and 4th grade learn LOGO programming and Scratch animation

Language Arts/Social Studies Science Department What tech skills do you wish your students had when they enter the grade? ·  Don’t expect students to possess skills. ·  Excel graphing skills – manipulating spreadsheet data and researching skills, powerpoints ·  Homework website skills ·  Discrepancy in graphing skills with new students who may have never used Excel. ·  Word processing, come adequately prepared already – know more than me. ·  MS Excel graphing and excel spreadsheets Where is technology being authentically integrated in the classroom program? ·  Bee study – graphing and manipulating the 4-year data- spreadsheets ·  Laptops for graphing and basic statistical work for graphing and writing up labs. ·  Not knowing what is out there, what’s available. ·  Potential what we would like to do and what we are doing is different. ·  SmartBoard, laptops, Excel database and Pivot Tables
 * 3rd and 4th grade learn to use online resources for research
 * 3rd and 4th grade practice citing sources.
 * 3rd and 4th grade use word processing skills to write stories and research.
 * 2nd grade uses Kidspiration to collect information
 * 3rd and 4th grade develop keyboarding skills to help them be more comfortable with word processing.
 * __ Middle School __**

What has prevented you from utilizing more technology in your classroom? ·  In the past availability issues, laptops checked out, lab checked out ·  Not knowing what is out there, what’s available? ·  Time. ·  Technology immigrant – does not come to me naturally.

The availability of technology to meet needs ·  Comes down to time learn things when you really need to learn them. ·  Have a lot of resources – think it is great. ·  So much support and funding to get what we need. ·  Great to have an IT person here in the building. ·  IT support is phenomenal and great. Always there when we need them.

Issues? ·  Availability in the past. ·  Laptop connectivity issues server problem 1-2 years ago. ·  Need of same software at school and at home. ·  Platform where students and teachers can open documents regardless of system it was created on. ·  Laptop have longer battery life.

What tech skills would you like to learn? ·  Google Earth ideas for classroom ·  Mapping ·  PowerPoint ·  Statistics using Excel – able to use at home ·  Make videos ·  Software/hardware that allows for microscope images on Smartboard. ·  Downloading probe software (Vanier) to computers. ·  Utilize online gradebook (Educator)

Where is technology being authentically integrated in the classroom? ·  Algebra II/Math I-graphing calculator, solve equations, use the functions on calculator ·  Geometry/Topics-Geometer’s Sketchpad, calculators ·  Statistics/Topics-use the statistics capability on calculators, minitab ·  Advanced Math-direct instruction on uses of the calculators ·  Smart Boards are used for notes and projection though they don’t use the board features as much. ·  Writing on tablets in classrooms What tech skills do you want your students to have when they take your course? ·  Basic excel ·  Basic use of calculator What tech skills would you like your students to learn? ·  By senior year they should know how to use the graphing calculator without assistance ·  Ability to distinguish when it is appropriate to use technology for math ·  Excel is only taught in a couple of courses but needs to be put in somewhere between math and science. Individual teachers use it. ·  Matt would like all students to learn to write programs, although no agreement on that in department—Some students learn to do it with their calculators ·  Exposure to a variety of platforms and software, like Open Office Where is technology being authentically integrated in the classroom? ·  Laptops are used for data collection and analysis ·  Probes are used to collect data and visualize information ·  Internet research ·  Internet simulations ·  blogs What tech skills do you want your students to have when they take your course? ·  9th graders have some Excel. Don’t necessarily need to use it in the US but will after that. What tech skills do you want your students to learn? ·  Some teachers spend time teaching Excel but would like more to do the same. ·  More online communication for sharing thought and questions-blogs ·  Would like students to use more media-podcast (video)—we should tap into what our students are doing ·  Some students-Can use programming to do things like genetic sequencing and find matches ·  Some students-build and learn databases ·  Scientific literacy—how biologists do things for example ·  Reinforce and advance skills like Excel ·  Perhaps there can be benchmarks for each grade-i.e. certain graphs, functions ·  Student should be able to communicate using the various forms of technology What tech skills do you want your students to have when they take your course?  1. Strong word-processing skills, including formatting and language specific skills (accent marks in French and Spanish) in MS Word and Powerpoint.  2. Ability to move between various formats (i.e., downloading compatibility thing that would allow them to open MS Word 07 documents using earlier versions of MS Word, or how to deal with listening to audio files posted on the class page)  3. Ability to use class pages (whatever training the students now receive seems to be insufficient, as they claim not to know how to use the class pages)  4. Ability to install Chinese reading/writing capability on own computer  5. Ability to continue working on a document at home, whether because they are required to have and know how to use a flash drive, or because they have citrix capabilities)   6.   Understanding that technology failure is not a convenient, go-to excuse; we’d like to see a school-wide standard on this, like late is late, even if it’s because your printer jammed. There’s a concern that students are using technology as an excuse for not doing work (I couldn’t open the Word file, I couldn’t hear the audio clip, my printer jammed, I didn’t have a copy of that document). We would like them to have the problem-solving skills to address these situations so that they can’t be considered excuses.    7. Understanding the powers and limitations of the internet –how it can help them, and what they shouldn’t use it for. What tech skills do you want your students to have when they take your course? ·  Pretty satisfied with kids’ skills in computers. ·  MS Word ·  Powerpoint. What tech skills do you want your students to learn? 1.  Many don’t know how to insert a footnote in a Word document, so we’ve been teaching that. We thought they would already know it coming in, but maybe that’s something we’re supposed to teach? What tech skills do you want your students to have when they take your course?  ·   Advanced word processing skills (consistent)  ·   When they leave-be more savvy about Internet.  ·   Internet-learn how to be more discriminatory and use it as a useful tool. not too concerned with their technological skills What types of skills do students need coming into US? ·  Basic Word, Excel and PowerPoint ·  Basic understanding of how the computers work ·  Using the network resources ·  Use of Internet What should they learn? ·  More advanced knowledge in Excel ·  How to use the technology in the classrooms to help with teachers and student presentations ·  Student compiled “How to…” ·  Learn software like Math Type, Equation Editor Word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet skills and benchmarks should be incorporated into departmental curricula. This must also be communicated to the faculty in those departments. Advanced word processing skills should be integrated into the appropriate disciplines. For example, creating citations should be done with library research skills. Inserting language accents and installing language add-ons should be taught in language classes. Currently, 9th grade history classes require students to do a PowerPoint presentation. This should be more formalized and should include best practices for presentations. Two level of benchmarks for spreadsheets and graphing should be articulated. The math and science departments should coordinate in their efforts to integrate these skills into their curriculum.
 * __ Upper School __**
 * __ Math Department __**
 * __ Science Department __**
 * __ Language Department __**
 * __ History Department __**
 * __ English Department  __**
 * __ Student Technology Committee __**
 * __Recommendations__**