CISD students participate in Digital Learning Day
Feb. 1 served as a new national day of celebration focusing on the positive results of innovative teaching combined with technology in the first observance of Digital Learning Day.
Organizers encouraged school districts and teachers across the nation to recognize the event by trying something new, showcasing success or kicking off a new project utilizing digital tools.
Cleburne ISD Instructional Technology Coordinator Jane Flynn created a “brag” blog chronicling what she has seen and heard since the start of school relating to the use of technology and digital learning in classrooms across the district. Her postings are filled with reports of students engaged in learning using “clickers,” “Prezi,” “NEOs,” and “Tweets” as they conduct research, make presentations and input their answers for a classroom pop quiz.
“We use technology every day,” Flynn said. “Really, for us, every day is a Digital Learning Day.”
One example of the digital learning taking place on Cleburne campuses involves Irving Elementary School fifth-graders and their live, long distance visit with Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana. Irving was one of five schools nationwide selected to participate in an interactive site event with NASA in which students talked with the former astronaut.
“I liked that we got to see and talk to an astronaut,” said Lauren Bentley, who was one of three Irving fifth-graders selected to pose a question to Cabana. “He’s accomplished a whole lot.”
As participants in the Education Service Center Region XI Telecommunications Network and Connect2Texas, coupled with the distance learning equipment purchased for the campus through grant funding, Irving students have “travelled” to far away places for live chats with experts in a variety of fields. Interactive site visits have included Discovery Channel Storm Chaser Reed Timor and Philippe Cousteau from the Seattle Aquarium to a representative from the National Archives providing information on the U.S. Constitution.
“We’ve had sessions two years now from the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame covering history, science and math,” CISD elementary librarian Betsy Ruffin said. “We are currently working with the Museum of Science and Nature on a CSI activity involving matter and mixture.”
“Kids are more connected to technology,” she said. “It’s a way to grab their interest and engage them using 21st century methods. While some students might not be as engaged in traditional teaching methods, they all focus on the lesson when we use technology.”
Santa Fe Elementary School recently received similar distance learning equipment through a special grant, and faculty training with demonstrations will begin next week.
The Cleburne High School Library has made 259 digital books available to students who prefer virtual reading, accessed with an iPhone, iPad, iPod, e-reader or home computer.
“Our download library allows students to check out digital books on their own personal devices,” librarian Fran Rader said. “At the end of the loan period, the books are automatically ‘returned’ to the library to be made available for the next reader.
“Classical and popular fiction is the focus of this virtual collection. Students can also access ebooks in public domain through our digital library. Reading is critical for success and the digital library connects students with the books they want, using the technology they love.”
In spring 2011, netbooks were introduced to students at Wheat and Smith middle schools for use in their English/language arts classes.
“These netbooks are not an ‘extra,’” Flynn said. “They are a tool. Instead of using paper and pencil or going to the computer lab, students do their class work and projects on the netbook. This has freed up our computer labs and given students more access to technology. They are also a hook to learning.”
Students work “in the clouds” using Google Apps, making their assignments and projects available from school, home or any place where they have access to a computer and the internet. A “share” option allows students assigned to the same project to work collaboratively in the classroom, at school or afterschool from their home computers.
This same share option allows teachers to view students’ work in progress and make corrections or suggestions.
Districtwide, students are using wireless NEOs to write stories, beam their work to the teacher, network with fellow students on projects and take Accelerated Reader tests at their desks.
“The kids love them and the use of NEOs gives teachers an ‘instant mastery check’ as students respond to questions or take a quiz,” Flynn said. “Teachers can see in an instant if their students have grasped a concept or objective.”
Ruffin says the use of technology in the classroom is critical in engaging learners, and enhancing their knowledge and skills.
“We want to continue to add skill development software to our program, but also go beyond to the technology that really builds higher level thinking skills and exposes students to 21st century activities and skills they will need in this new information age,” Ruffin said. “As a librarian, I’m interested in using digital learning resources in building information literacy. We find that even in older students, while they may be able to locate information, they may not be able to evaluate and use it.
“We want our students to learn how to pare information down; to know what is accurate, to select what they need and use it. For our elementary students, we have on-line data bases to help starting learners get that discernment. There’s so much that can be done to build basic and higher skills with technology, if you are ready to take that next step.”
The next technology wave for Cleburne schools is only weeks away, with the district going wireless. The completion of this project is expected to lead to the eventual use by students of personally-owned devices in the classroom for instructional purposes. Implementation would begin at the high school level and could be piloted in several classes later this year.
“You can’t walk down the hall at any campus without seeing teachers using computer projectors, document cameras, smart boards, interactive tablets or some sort of technology resource,” Flynn said. “What used to be an unexpected technology activity on a campus is now a common occurrence.”
Article source: http://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/local/x2009904168/CISD-students-participate-in-Digital-Learning-Day
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