TECHNOLOGY CLASS
Technology class takes place in our newly renovated Technology Center. There students have access to our PC lab as well as our iPad mobile lab. Our technology specialist, Lana Smith, is the instructor for all technology classes. She plans lessons that follow our Brandon Academy technology curriculum. These classes are "special" or "elective" classes.
In the lower school, students take computer/technology class twice per week for 30 (JK-3rd grades) or 45 minutes (4th and 5th). These classes, much like art, music, PE and Spanish, provide our lower school students opportunities to be exposed to a wide range of courses that are outside of the core academic curriculum. Students at BA are learning to use computers as learning and productivity tools from JK through 5th grades. Common activities in lower school technology class involved exposure to typing on a keyboard, using productivity software such as Word and Power Point, and learning to do research online. In addition, students learn to be responsible and safe on computers as well.
Please note, however, that students in the lower school are only in technology class for about an hour to an hour and a half per week. This allows for exposure to technology skills, but certainly not mastery. The lower school special area classes are intended to expose students to a wide variety of subjects in order to allow them to have lots of experiences prior to making a decision as to what to specialize in once they are in middle school. While students are exposed to keyboarding, for example, we would not expect students to be proficient at typing just from attending technology class, even if that was all they did every time they were there. However, it does give them exposure to those skills so that they can build upon them in the middle school grades as well as practice them on their own, if they have an interest.
In the middle school grades, students are allowed to choose 2 electives. Those students with an interest in computers may enroll in Graphic Design or TV Production. Middle school elective classes meet everyday. Student have specific assignments to complete to demonstrate specific skills that they are learning in these courses. Students also earn grades for these courses.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOMS
Now that we have our iPads and that students are bringing their own devices to school, classroom teachers are able to use technology to enrich instruction within the classroom as well. Of course, our teachers have used our SMART boards, laptop computers and projectors for many years. iPads provide another modality for teachers to use in their classrooms to engage students in learning. Teachers are finding apps for the iPads that allow students to practice basic skills, enrich what they are learning in their lessons, and show what they know in new ways. Students are doing research on the iPads as well. The older students, in grades 4-8, are now using the iPads to write essays and reports and share them using their new BA google drive accounts.
TRAINING
As technology continues to change and grow, our staff and students are learning right along with it. Our teachers have engaged in an increased amount of training focusing on technology and integrating it into instruction. One of my recent blog posts focused on this. Most of the most recent teacher work day focused on additional technology training, which continues to be a focus at their weekly faculty meetings.
It is indeed an exciting time in education as we find ways to incorporate technology into our students learning!
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOMS:
Grade/Class: 2nd grade
Teacher: Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Jones
Subject: Science
App or website: Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Describe the activity: Second grade went on a virtual field trip to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL. The students first learned there are seven types of sea turtles and five of them can be found in Florida (Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Kemp's Ridley). They explored various turtle shells and learned about what those shells are protecting. The student's could relate to this when they felt their own spine and ribs. Next, the students were taken to the turtle yard where they got to meet the turtles and hatchling patients. We saw some resting and some swimming around to say hi to us! We learned that the turtle hospital helps many turtles that are injured. Once they are all better they release them back into their natural habitat. After we met the turtles and toured the hospital, we had a chance to ask questions. The students had some fantastic questions!
Explain how this activity enhances learning of the subject matter: Besides learning many interesting facts about turtles we got to expand on our current science topic: natural resources and pollution. The students were able to connect that keeping our water clean is not only helpful to us, but the sea turtles and other animals.
Student feedback: Second grade loved this field trip! When we asked the students what their favorite part was, they said:
"Meeting the adorable cute little hatchlings"
"Learning that they can live 80 - 100 years!"
"Seeing all the turtles and hearing their stories"
"Learning that they can lay 600 eggs"
