Tech Happenings In The Elementary School

Our DLCs work across all divisions to support classroom teachers with integrating technology into their curriculum.  Elementary School has seen some great technological happenings since the school year started ... let's see what is going on!

4th Grade Science Projects

Students have been researching concepts such as force, mass, friction and gravity and then creating videos to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding.  They learnt how to create a storyboard in order to plan an effective movie.

In doing so they learnt about camera angles, framing, panning and zooming and planned their science videos with these concepts in mind.  They then created imovies from their story boards.  You can check these out on their pagoda class pages or blogs.

DLC Mr Walker works with a group of fourth grade boys on
their science videos, using one of the new collaborative tables.

The ES Computer Lab has gone Mobile!

As our lab computers were due for replacement and we have seen a strong transition to an integrated technology model, we replaced the lab computers with an extra cart.  This is available for use with the Grade 2 and 3 classes and will provide much welcomed extra access to technology in these grades, providing for more authentic integrated learning opportunities within the classroom.

A New Green Screen

With the computer lab going mobile, we now have a great flexible space in the old lab and have installed a green screen for video production.  The green screen space is still under construction, but already students are having lots of fun experimenting with it. Although the lighting is not yet in place and the floor space needs expansion, a few lucky fourth grade students recently trialled it out for their projects.  Take a look ...

Pre-K have been up to visit as well, working on fun pictures for a book cover.

Grade Two are excited about using the green screen to do some weather work.   Keep an eye on the lobby monitor during November and December for the latest in weather updates brought to you by your friendly Grade Two meteorologists.

Grade Four /Five Apple TV - Sharing Screens

Grade Five teachers are now mobile.  The addition of apple TVs and iPads means that they are able to walk around students and control lessons from their iPads.  Students can easily share work for discussion and critique ... Used in conjunction with software such as Pear Deck, our new apple TVs are providing exciting collaborative learning opportunities.

New Keyboarding Being Trialled in Grade Two and Three

Good keyboarding skills are critical for our students as computers are very much a part of their lives. After a significant amount of research we have settled on a new programme, designed by teachers for students.  It runs differently to previous typing programs used and discourages hunt and peck style typing, as it will time out if students stop to look at their fingers and keyboards.

Fifth Grade Students Learning Effective Web Search Skills

DLC Mr Hoskin, discussing the information students located and pieced together.

Recently 5L and 5J did some work with our DLCs, solving an age old mystery whilst learning some effective search skills.

Students working collaboratively with google search to solve the mystery.

Students were given clues and keywords.  They had to use these, along with their new skills in google search to piece together the story of a broken sword and Devil's Island.