West Hartford Public Schools
Computer User Group
Meeting Notes
Tuesday, March 8th
1.
Classroom technology applications:
Kathy Hardesty, Smith –LEGO Robotics Kathy showed a Power Point presentation on
her Lighthouse Grant project focusing on Lego Robotics and student research. For
more information, and to see results from the local and state-level Lego
Robotics competitions, see:
http://www.whps.org/school/smith/Quest%20Web/Main/first_lego_league.htm
2. SDE Update: Laptop initiative: Jim reported on the latest information
about the SDE & Governor's laptop initiative for Grades 9 & 10. The project is
seen as in-school use only, with laptop mobile carts residing in classrooms.
Funding may be requested for support and professional development, as well as
the actual laptop carts - which would certainly reduce the number of schools
getting the laptops in the first two years. The program is still under
development and may change before it is submitted to the General Assembly.
3. Lighthouse grant awards: Six Lighthouse Grants were submitted for
review by the February 11, 2005 deadline. A committee reviewed each grant using
a blind process. Two grants of approximately $5000 each were awarded. Here are
the grant winners and their abstracts:
Engineering Design with Lego Mindstorms Robotics – Bridget Hooper and Anthony Truss, King Philip and Sedgwick Middle Schools
Project Abstract:
Our project proposal is to integrate the Lego Mindstorms For Schools Robotic Technology with our current Manufacturing Technology curriculum. We teach a 30-day rotation that explores Research and Development in manufacturing enterprises. Units include the engineering design process, problem solving, automation, robotics and energy transfer. Our supporting activity is to use the engineering design process to design and make a robotic arm run by hydraulic power. Students use wood, hardware, syringes and machines to complete the project. However, we find the activity doesn’t help students truly understand many of the concepts we teach. Real robots are a system of sensors, mechanisms, and microprocessors that engineers program to do the required tasks. Testing, evaluating and modifying prototypes is a crucial end process before the production of robots or any manufactured products. The Lego Mindstorms technology and the curriculum that goes with it can offer students a meaningful opportunity to construct and program robots. As the students test them, they can gather and analyze technology generated data in order to evaluate their prototypes.
This project can be considered a “Lighthouse Technology” proposal for several reasons. The Mindstorms curriculum and technology can be easily integrated with our own. Our students rely heavily upon us because they need to acquire the machine and safety skills in order to do the current activity. This proposal is project-based and student-directed. Most students can easily construct with Legos. Additionally, students will develop technical competencies to prepare them for the District’s Performance Standard in Technology. Robotics technology is not available in our middle or high school programs, while the newly proposed program clusters for Technology Education place an emphasis on automation and robotics. Students have unequal access to robotics camps or robotics sets sold on the market. This project can reinforce the Districts’ goal for achievement by offering all students this educational experience. The project will increase the integration of national standards in math and science with Technology Education. Students will realize that the interdisciplinary nature of these subjects is the norm.
Digital Video Feedback – Matthew Dicks, Wolcott School
Project Abstract:
Digital Video Feedback is a system by which students and teachers can view, reflect, and receive immediate feedback on their teaching, learning and behavior in the classroom. Initiated as a means of demonstrating productive peer conferencing during Writer’s Workshop, I quickly recognized the value of this system in other aspects of the classroom environment. Using a digital video camera, students; performance is taped on a regular basis, and the footage is either shown immediately to the student or class as a means of highlighting positive learning behaviors, or it is edited and included as an element of a future lesson. After experiencing great success with this system during Writer’s Workshop, I have expanded it into many other areas, including:
Reader’s Workshop, where students can see and hear what a productive book talk looks and sounds like
Science instruction, where students can view experiments and determine the validity of the results by evaluating the use of the scientific method.
Behavioral management, particularly with students who are often off-task or unfocused. By allowing them to view their own behavior in the context of the whole class, students are able to independently assess and modify behavior.
My own instruction. By routinely viewing my own teaching, I have been able to adjust and modify to better meet the needs of students.
Student-created productions. Students have now begun to document their own conferences and experiments through the use of video, which they later present to the class with personal commentary.
Lighthouse Grants seek to promote the use of technology as part of the learning environment, creating an environment in which learning becomes more student directed and project-based, and I believe that Digital Video Feedback meets these goals exceptionally well. Teachers are able to use technology seamlessly to guide student learning, and students can use technology as a means of assessing and documenting their own work.
4.
Data Warehouse demo – Plato Karafelis, Wolcott: postponed to the May
meeting.
5. Classroom technology applications - Video Project update
The Department of Information Technology will be creating an informative video library of educational technology integration models that are happening in our district. The purpose of this is twofold:
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To provide a vehicle for parents and West Hartford residents to get a look at what is going on in our classrooms. This would be seen on West Hartford television and like venues; |
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To be used as instructional best practices tool, linked to digital curriculum, for teachers to access and view. |
Each vignette should contain the following components. These do not necessarily need to be in this order but the time limit should remain under 10 minutes for each.
Introduction explaining the purpose of the video project; to disseminate
information on the various ways our district is integrating technology into
the existing curriculum,
Leading question to teachers - How are they currently using technology to
increase student learning?
State specific curriculum goal by grade level, standard and content area.
The Process - what exactly they are doing which should include student and
examples. (release forms will be provided)
The Components - what training, software and hardware were utilized.
Interview or moment for School Principal statements
Clearly state/show the impact this has made to student learning and why?
Paul Rabara from Wolcott and Diane Cohen from King Philip have both met with
me to help with direction and offer their expertise. We will also be working
with the curriculum department on fine-tuning the curriculum piece.
6.
Classroom technology applications:
Lisa Pons, Webster Hill – SmartBoard applications
Lisa demonstrated her use of the SmartBoard in the classroom, showing student
projects that reflected their use of the technology within the curriculum.
7. Bits & Bytes Online
Bits and Bytes will now appear online only, in order to provide greater depth
and to save on copying costs:
http://www.whps.org/it/profdevelopment/Bits%26Bytes/BitsandBytes.htm
8. Picasa2 Photo Album Software:
Denise Jaffe demoed this free software from Google which provides extensive
graphics capabilities:
http://toolbar.google.com/picasa/picasa2-setup-1877.exe
9. Next meetings: April 12, May 10 (last meeting of the year).