Technology
IN OUR CLASSROOMS
January 2008
Fifth grade explores think.com
Oracle Education Foundation has developed a wonderful learning tool for elementary students called think.com. At think.com, students create Web pages with a special twist: the pages specifically invite interaction with other students and teachers at Pike. For example, students can create an online poll where others can vote their views. Or students can share their expertise on a topic by creating an "Ask Me" column where other students pose questions and get answers.
Librarian Linda Griset leads the project, and she'll use the Web pages to help students learn and write about authors they're interested in. Because it's a "Web 2.0" tool, think.com also gives us the opportunity to model for students how such tools can be used in ways that are both fun and productive.
Librarian Linda Griset leads the project, and she'll use the Web pages to help students learn and write about authors they're interested in. Because it's a "Web 2.0" tool, think.com also gives us the opportunity to model for students how such tools can be used in ways that are both fun and productive.
Technology Research Year
Pike's faculty members have the option each year to develop in an in-depth technology project via our professional development program called Technology Research Year (TRY). TRY participants volunteer time to work on their projects, often nights and weekends, and in turn they are given a few hours out of regular classroom coverage to talk about new technologies with technology department representatives and with their colleagues.
Our hats are off to this faculty, who have grown TRY from 3 participants in 2004 to 12 participants in 2006. Their commitment to deepen their own professional skill and understanding is the single most important source of sustenance for this program, and for the high quality of teaching at Pike.
Each year, TRY aligns its work with the curriculum area that the faculty are reviewing and revising together. For 2006-2008, we're looking at the language arts curriculum. We're aligning our teaching materials with national and state standards, and we're looking at gaps and overlaps in our PreK - 9 language arts materials. TRY participants add some extra tasks onto their plates: they explore the ways in which technology can open doors, and even change curricula, so that students and teachers can learn more powerfully.
Our hats are off to this faculty, who have grown TRY from 3 participants in 2004 to 12 participants in 2006. Their commitment to deepen their own professional skill and understanding is the single most important source of sustenance for this program, and for the high quality of teaching at Pike.
Each year, TRY aligns its work with the curriculum area that the faculty are reviewing and revising together. For 2006-2008, we're looking at the language arts curriculum. We're aligning our teaching materials with national and state standards, and we're looking at gaps and overlaps in our PreK - 9 language arts materials. TRY participants add some extra tasks onto their plates: they explore the ways in which technology can open doors, and even change curricula, so that students and teachers can learn more powerfully.
Technology Events
Technology Research Year: Final Meeting for 2008
February 5, 2008 from 12-4 pm, Upper School Lab
2008 T3 International Conference
"20 Year Anniversary"
Hyatt Regency - Dallas, TX
February 29 - March 2, 2008
Science By Hand!
The Little Shop of Physics is a collection of hands-on science experiments designed for students in grades K-16. Have fun!
