Fall+News+07

Elementary Tech News

From the desk of Nedra Isenberg

THANK YOU First of all thank you sharing your units of study for this month. As you begin to plan for November please keep me posted. I’m not getting as much done in class as I had hoped. It takes longer to log on, save work and log off than I expected! Here’s a brief summary of what we’re doing in class: K-learning how to log in with their name and number 1-learning how to duplicate and move a picture in Excel and review counting to 10 2-learning how to move around in a chart and how to change the color of the font in Word while working on main character in a story and spelling word wall words 3-learning how to change the color of cells and numbers and underline in Excel as well as work on skip counting by 3s, 5s and 6s 4-learning how to go back and forth between a document and the internet to find information about NYS geography to fill in a graphic organizer and then to use the organizer to type a paragraph 5-learning how to make a graph in Excel and then change the font and background colors

DISTRICT STUDENT COMPETENCIES I have posted our District Student Competencies for technology on my web page. You’ll find them on my home page under document manager and then teachers. http://www.hpschools.org/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=6266&catfilter=772#showDoc Teachers are expected to be as computer literate as their students. Please take a moment to review these competencies. Let me know if you’d like me do a mini lesson on any particular area.

COMPUTER LABS At GWF the computers and programs are working fine. Not all programs are working consistently at HPE but hopefully the issue will be resolved soon. I hope I don’t jinx myself but all the Microsoft programs; Word, Excel etc. have been working fine at HPE. Please use the lab on the days I don’t have classes. Sign up sheets are in the faculty room. If you have a lesson/project that you need assistance with for planning/implementing let us know and we'll HELP you out.

MATH SOFTWARE New math software has been purchased. I’m just waiting for it to be installed. Once it is installed there will be training.

WEB PAGE I’m starting to get websites for the students posted on my webpage. If you have a link you’d like posted for your grade level be sure to let me know. On my webpage I have a classrooms page. From there the students click on their grade level. The web sites will be posted under useful links. I have blogs going on the 4th and 5th grade sites. If you’d like help setting up a blog on your web page let me know. They are pretty easy to set up and monitor. The students’ answers don’t get posted until you okay them.

INTERACTIVE WHITE BOARD The board is working and I honestly don’t think I could do this job without it! My next mini lesson is going to be how to use the board. I will do this at HPE on Monday Oct. 15th and at GWF on Tuesday Oct. 16th. I know the GWF teachers had training last spring so this will just be a refresher if you’re interested.

INTERNET PROJECTS I've participated in online projects in the past. I enjoy doing them because it forces me to figure out how to integrate technology into my curriculum. As I come across interesting projects I will be approaching teachers about participating in them. If you’re interested I will be happy to assist you. Or if you come across something you want to try but need some assistance let Josh and I know and we’ll help you out.

LESSON PLANS USING EXCEL This workshop is on hold for the moment but Lisa Buchanan will be offering the lesson as soon as it can be arranged.

ALPHASMARTS/NEOS I’ll be posting a sign up sheet in the faculty room to see if there’s interest in a refresher course on using the AlphaSmarts/NEOs. Margaret McNamara is willing to do an after school session for us.

PROBLEMS WITH YOUR COMPUTER/PRINTER When you have a problem with your computer, printer, software, etc. be sure to fill out a work order form and give it to Josh or myself. It is important that we have a paper trail when it comes to these issues. If you need a form just let me know. THANK YOU Thank you for your support as I’ve taken on this new position. It is very much appreciated. //__Two final reminders-use the lab and let me know what you’ll be studying next month.__//