It sounds like the release of a new software or type of technology, but in all actuality is just the 2nd semester of the 2011-2012 year. It is hard to believe S1 has past. What will S2 bring, updates? New shiny buttons? iPads? (ooooo rumors) As we are continually working to “step up our game” as for finding new ways to use our technology and integrate new technology, the challenge is constant.
As for in the McKenney classrooms…. if you want a peak as to what we are doing, the daily plans and student published works are on the class wikis linked to the right.
Here is it already July, I have been knee deep in wifi, PC server, and imaging problems. I even recruited my kids to help pack up 70 laptops to send to Apple to have the very small lid/hinge cracks fixed as you can see by the pics below. Their support service is fabulous. We are getting ready for school to start with new printers and copiers and re-imaged laptops. Before we know it school we be here Argh & Yeah!
All involved agreed that our showcasing how our school was using technology to school board members and administrators from across the state was a huge success. Our booth focused on how Brady was using Polycoms, Wikis, Blogs, and iPods in its classrooms. Our shirts said “Poly-what?” and that was the reaction from the majority of the people that we spoke with. We were one of the few booths from central Nebraska and we were blocking traffic and causing people to bring other people to our booth to introduce others to our topics. Our students did an excellent job. I tried not to listen to closely but they were telling people how learning isn’t “boring” when the technology is used. I could tell that the conference attendees were enjoying the frankness and honesty of our students as they questioned them about how they think classrooms can be improved. I think the teachers at Brady should pat themselves on the back and give themselves an “A”, because without their work these three students wouldn’t have had so much to brag about.
Can you believe it? I get to take 3 students to a conference so that they can “showcase” or brag (that’s my version) about what our school is doing with technology. Brodie Sullivan-Bock, Krista Kleinow, Sierra Quadhammer, and I will be at the Nebraska Association of School Board (NASB) Conference in Omaha this week. The students are working hard to prepare brochures, video commericals, and a pictorial PowerPoint to help inform school board members from across the state. These are 3 students that are excited at this opportunity and won’t have any problems discussing Polycoms, Wikis, Blogs, and iPods with strangers. Watch out Omaha… here we come!
Last Friday night, our 1st Student Bootcamp, was like having climbed a mountain for over a year and a half and standing at the top and looking out at the scenery. The scenery in this instance was almost every student and at least one parent for the 9-12 grades. It was very exciting. Mr. Smith would probably tell me that I am insane because I am excited to see my workload increasing by 75 more computers that are being managed and used by students 24/7. I think it is because I am focusing on the big picture and it is exciting to see the progress happening and the excited student response. This past few days the computer problems with student has been fairly minimal. The students are taking good care and are excited to have this opportunity. I have 9th grade students bragging about how they got to use Excel in Science and another student who sometimes struggles in school putting in extra effort to complete a podcast in Garageband. If the assignment was a different type the struggling student would have put the minimum if not less effort. It is little moments like these that are showing the value of the initiative and this is just day 3.
All I can say is “Yeah Brady!” Striving for Excellence.
One step closer to being 1 to 1. The final order of Apple laptops arrived today for the 9-12 grades. Let the preparation begin! The advanced computer and shop students were more than eager to help unload the Fedex truck and take them to my room. Of course I gave them tootsie rolls for their hard work. I am hoping that we can have the student bootcamp no later than October 15th but we are now waiting on the cases to arrive, so we will keep our fingers crossed. Teacher Bootcamp will be held during the Sept 27th in-service. The TECHS class will be busy, helping with all of the preparation.
Getting ready for the new learning environment here at Brady. Our 1 to 1 program is moving right along. I am working on imaging our 27 new student laptops that just arrived. The next shipment of Student laptops will be arriving in September. My TECHS class will be knee deep in the tech world then. They will help un-package, inventory, label, repackage, prepare the laptops to be imaged, and hand out to students at the Bootcamp night.
Second graders, 5th graders, 6th graders, and Freshmen alike are creating audio broadcasts called podcasts. Elementary students are creating podcasts using the Mac program Garageband, which lets the students to add images to their audio recordings. The Beginning Computer class which mainly consists of Freshmen students are recording podcasts using iPod Touch and microphones. The Beg. Computer class then are publishing their podcast on the class wiki (bradycomputerclass.wikispaces.com), which is also linked from on Mrs. McKenney’s website. The 5th grade podcasts are also published on Mrs. Jobman’s website also linked to on www.bradyschools.org . Podcast topics are ranging from “how to” to news reporters reporting from historical events. Students create storyboards planning their podcast, research the topic, insert images, manipulate the files, publish online, and write the scripts. Podcasts are a great tool for students to sythesize and demonstrate what they have learned in class and are common in a “21st Learning School” environment.
