Technology
Muncy SD, Myers ES, Robin Schuller…As school districts continue their search for ways to increase student achievement, technology is one avenue that may be pursued. A survey of last year's fourth grade students indicated that 42 percent of those children did not have a computer available in the home. Those students did not have the opportunity to interact with their parents in computer-related activities, nor could they complete word processing projects started at school, or access the Internet or appropriate CD-ROM's.
The goal of our technology project is to increase student achievement by placing the latest technology directly into the hands of our children and their families, so that our children have the opportunity to extend technology and curriculum-related activities into their homes. With a PAESP - CCC mini grant of $1,500 grant, we analyzed our specific computer needs and ordered three Brother color GeoBooks. The GeoBooks are laptop-sized computers that have the following capabilities: easy to view size display, fax-send capabilities, built-in application suite, PC file compatible, built-in disk drive, built-in modem, unlimited storage memory, and easily connected to most printers. It certainly meets our needs for this project. We also purchased three carrying cases for easy transport from school to home and back.
With parents' help and support, our fourth grade students will work through an introductory packet of information which is being prepared by our fifth and sixth grade Computer Club members. As a result, the students and their parents will produce a document that can be printed at school the following day. The second time each student has the opportunity to take a computer home, they will complete an assignment detailed by the classroom teacher that relates directly to content information being taught in the classroom.
Project success will be measured by tracking the student-parent usage to ensure 100 percent of our fourth grade students and their parents have the opportunity to use the GeoBooks. Also, individual teachers will monitor the quality of the processed documents that our students prepare.
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