MEMO

 

To:                  Principal

                        4th & 5th Grade School – New Jersey

From:              Mrs. Susan Milovich, Teacher of the Handicapped/Technology Facilitator

Subject:           Integrated Approach to insure that all Fourth and Fifth Graders meet the Technology Standards in the NJ CCS.

Date:               April 2005

 

ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT RESOURCES

Each classroom is equipped with at least two computers and all classes have access to the

wireless labs for one 50-minute period each week.  The majority of the staff is comfortable with their own computers.  They utilize them to send and receive email, post assignments on Homework Hero, and to create documents for students use.  Several of the staff members also submit their lesson plans on line.  Most of the computers are equipped with Internet access, have either Clarisworks or Microsoft Windows for word processing, Inspiration software for creating graphic outlines, and other organizers to assist with writing.  Computers also have Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent software to create slide presentations and Microsoft Excel or equivalent software for creating spreadsheets and graphs.     

 

TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS IN THE NJ CCCS

 OUR GOAL AND HOW EACH CHILD CAN MASTER THE STANDARDS

 

Our school-wide goal is full mastery of each technology standard.  Each student will create a digital portfolio of his/her work as an authentic assessment to show that he/she has mastered the NJ CCCS.  Technology assignments should augment the other disciplines.  A list of sample projects that highlight each of the standards and strands is listed below.  The Technology Facilitator will work with the classroom teachers to create exact criteria for projects at each grade level.  The number of projects that should be completed at each grade level has not been determined and needs to be discussed with administration and staff for feasibility.

 

STANDARD 8.1 Students will use computer applications to gather and organize information and solve problems.

Basic Computer Skills and Tools

*  Long Term Goals - Basic technology vocabulary and features of an operating system

Input and access text and data, using appropriate keyboarding techniques or other input devices.  Create and maintain files and folders, use a graphic organizer, and use basic computer icons.

Project:  As the children work through all the projects below, they will master all of the above skills as they create their own digital portfolio.

*  Goal - Produce a simple finished document using word processing software.

Project:  Use the wireless lab during the scheduled time to type one of the students’ final copies of a writing assignment.  For added punch, download a picture from google.com, (click on images), and insert it onto the final product.  The children can also practice changing fonts to create the look they want.

*  Goal - Produce and interpret a simple graph or chart by entering and editing data on a prepared spreadsheet template.

Project:  Use the collaborative math project by Linda Dyke at http://www.masters.ab.ca/bdyck/back/ that discusses the weight of backpacks and how they are hurting students backs all around the world to investigate percents, ratios, tables and graphing.

*  Goal - Create and present a multimedia presentation using appropriate software.

Project:  Create a PowerPoint presentation with four slides entitled “My Book About Me”.  The first slide will contain a general biography of the student. Slides two and three will highlight special aspects of the student’s life, such as their interests, family, sports, etc.  The final slide will touch on the things that the student cares about, such as the environment, friendships, etc.  Digital photography, scanned drawings, clip art, or Internet images could be added to each page.  The technology coordinator can supply a slide template or the teachers may design their own.  

 

 

Application of Productivity Tools

Social Aspects

*  Goal - Discuss the common uses of computer applications and identify their advantages and disadvantages. Recognize and practice responsible social and ethical behaviors when using technology. Understand the consequences of inappropriate use including:  Internet access, copyrighted materials, on-line library resources, personal security and safety issues, appropriate Internet etiquette, and the ethical and legal implications of plagiarism of copyrighted materials.

Project 1:  Do the Internet scavenger hunt about copyrighted materials at http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/hunt/hunt040.shtml.

Project 2:  Use the Good Night Stories website at http://goodnightstories.com/stories.htm to create madlibs, finish previously written stories and publish your student’s stories on this Internet site.  Discuss personal security and safety, the use of proper language and the ethical implication of creating one’s own work to publish.  This is a very easy project.  

Information Access and Research

*  Goal - Recognize the need for accessing and using information. Identify and use web browsers, search engines, and directories to obtain information to solve real world problems.  Recognize accuracy and/or bias of information.

Project:  Use http://www.ipl.org/youth/dewey/, the website of the Youth division of the Internet Library and a good web browser at http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/ to begin any research project.  Choose one topic from Social Studies in each grade to write a report about.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

*  Goal - Solve problems individually and/or collaboratively using computer applications. 

Project:  Students will research flags to decide what is a good or poor design for a flag at the North American Vexillological Association website that can be accessed at http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/techlp/techlp026.shtml and then work in pairs to create a school flag based on the information they found out.  Flags can be drawn in Excel by following the directions at this site.  A contest could be held to choose a school flag out of all the designs.

STANDARD 8.2 Students will develop an understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design and the designed world as they relate to the individual, society and the environment.  In Grade 4 & 5 this standard is based on the Science Standards 5.2 and 5.4 that state, students will:  Develop and understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology and how discoveries have advanced the same.  All students will understand the interrelationships between science and technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and process of technology.

Cultural Contributions and Historical Perspectives

*  Goal - Describe how people in different cultures have made and continue to make contributions to science and technology.  Hear, read, write, and talk about scientists and inventors in historical context.

Project:  Use website http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/.   In pairs, research two different scientists from the 19th century that worked with plants, animals, etc.  Fill out research sheet about scientist.  Then have the children use the interactive venn diagram organizer at http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/venn/index.html. to compare and contrast the information they found about the two scientists.  Scientists may be chosen by the teacher ahead of time to augment particular units.

Science and Technology

*  Goal - Distinguish between things that occur in nature and those that have been designed to solve human problems.

Project:  http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/technologyatwork1/ will link you to the Discovery School lesson plan website.  In this lesson, students will work in pairs to research technology on the Internet.  They will create a timeline using Inspiration or use one that is web interactive at http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/timeline/index.html to determine when certain tools were designed to help humans solve problems. 

Nature of Technology

*  Goal - Demonstrate how measuring instruments are used to gather information in order to design things that work properly.

Project:  Students find out which birds are present in our school environment through observation and Internet research at http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/animals/birds/. They will use characteristics and measurements of these birds to design and build birdhouses that can be used in the Green Team garden to attract birds.  Measurements will be used to determine the size of the houses as well as in the process of building the birdhouses. For additional projects go to  http://shopa.org/shopa_foundation/bpguide/.

Technological Design

*  Goal - Describe a product or device in terms of the problem it solves or the need it meets.

Choose materials most suitable based on their characteristics to make simple mechanical constructions. Use the design process to identify a problem, look for ideas, and develop and share solutions with others.

Project:  Design and create weather-monitoring devices for your class weather station with help from http://www.wildwildweather.com/teachers.htm.  Gather weather data in our area for a month with your instruments and analyze that information by creating Excel spreadsheets and graphs.