6.6 Students use technology resources to conduct research, demonstrate creative and critical thinking, and communicate and work collaboratively.
Students and teachers at Michael C. Riley are fortunate to have extensive access to technology resources and applications for daily instruction. The following resources are used in classrooms and labs for research, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration:
Devices and Applications
Beaufort County School District’s Connect 2 Learn Initiative gives students in third, fourth, and fifth grades access to learning on an iPad on a 1-to-1 basis. Students are able to use iPads to access research and to collaborate throughout the day and across curricular areas. Teacher-selected applications on each iPad allow students to conduct their own research, apply note-taking and communication skills, and practice skills in engaging ways. Students also have opportunities to collaborate with each other and with their teacher through services such as Googledocs, Notability, and Edmodo.
Students and teachers at Michael C. Riley are fortunate to have extensive access to technology resources and applications for daily instruction. The following resources are used in classrooms and labs for research, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration:
Devices and Applications
Beaufort County School District’s Connect 2 Learn Initiative gives students in third, fourth, and fifth grades access to learning on an iPad on a 1-to-1 basis. Students are able to use iPads to access research and to collaborate throughout the day and across curricular areas. Teacher-selected applications on each iPad allow students to conduct their own research, apply note-taking and communication skills, and practice skills in engaging ways. Students also have opportunities to collaborate with each other and with their teacher through services such as Googledocs, Notability, and Edmodo.
Collaboration
The following are examples of student assignments completed using Googledocs to share with other students and the teacher.
The following are examples of student assignments completed using Googledocs to share with other students and the teacher.
Groups of students are also able to share their Googledocs or Notability pages in order to collaborate by sharing in real time research that each member of a group has found. In addition, they can synergize by working simultaneously on a common assignment so that each student can see what others are contributing while the document is still a work in progress. Teachers are also able to assign and collect assignments through Google Classroom, which dovetails with Googledocs for uploading and sharing documents.
Edmodo
Edmodo on the iPads (or other devices from outside of school) allows students to access files shared by their teacher, communicate with one another, share information with classmates, and submit assignments electronically. Following are two screenshots of the MCRES Engineering Fair Edmodo page. The first shows templates and resources that have been made available to students for assistance with projects, and the second demonstrates collaboration between students sharing documents and asking questions of each other and the teacher.
Edmodo on the iPads (or other devices from outside of school) allows students to access files shared by their teacher, communicate with one another, share information with classmates, and submit assignments electronically. Following are two screenshots of the MCRES Engineering Fair Edmodo page. The first shows templates and resources that have been made available to students for assistance with projects, and the second demonstrates collaboration between students sharing documents and asking questions of each other and the teacher.
Consistent access to iPads also offers students opportunities to engage in immersive learning environments, including game-based learning through a multitude of applications on the devices. Many of the apps provide practice with skills in reading, math, science, and the arts through engaging game-type simulations.
Data Collection Tools
IPads and other devices allow students to use Pasco sensors and associated SPARKvue Software to perform in-depth investigations and higher level scientific analyses than would otherwise be accessible. Students have used temperature sensors to accurately compare temperatures of direct and indirect sunlight for astronomy and energy applications, and evaluate the insulating qualities of shelters for grasslands habitats and materials for preventing heat transfer. They have also been able to use motion sensors to make direct correlations between movement of objects and graphs showing position over time.
IPads and other devices allow students to use Pasco sensors and associated SPARKvue Software to perform in-depth investigations and higher level scientific analyses than would otherwise be accessible. Students have used temperature sensors to accurately compare temperatures of direct and indirect sunlight for astronomy and energy applications, and evaluate the insulating qualities of shelters for grasslands habitats and materials for preventing heat transfer. They have also been able to use motion sensors to make direct correlations between movement of objects and graphs showing position over time.
School-wide Resources
In addition to the 1-to-1 iPad initiative in third, fourth, and fifth grades, Michael C. Riley also offers a set of thirty iPad minis exclusively for our ESOL classes, as well as two sets of iPad minis and three sets of laptops for use by other grade levels. We also boast a total of three computer labs which are used for technology instruction, testing, and regular access to Compass Learning, Waterford Learning, and a variety of other technological resources for entire classes. Each regular classroom also has three laptop computers, which students regularly use to access instructional resources and technology-based stations.
Examples of the multitude of technology resources and electronic learning tools regularly accessed by teachers and students are the FOSSweb (www.fossweb.com) and Everyday Math Online (www.everydaymathonline.com) extensions of our science and math curriculum, the Hour of Code programming curriculum (www.hourofcode.org), Carolina Science Online (www.tigtagcarolina.com) and the Discovery Education Techbook (http://scbeaufort.discoveryeducation.com/).
Student Opportunities
Over the past few years, we have offered a Robotics Club, and this year, we are also proud to field our first competitive robotics team with First Lego League. Currently open to fourth graders, this team meets three times per week to explore robot design, programming, and sportsmanship goals. Our school objective is to open this opportunity to more students in the future.
In addition to the 1-to-1 iPad initiative in third, fourth, and fifth grades, Michael C. Riley also offers a set of thirty iPad minis exclusively for our ESOL classes, as well as two sets of iPad minis and three sets of laptops for use by other grade levels. We also boast a total of three computer labs which are used for technology instruction, testing, and regular access to Compass Learning, Waterford Learning, and a variety of other technological resources for entire classes. Each regular classroom also has three laptop computers, which students regularly use to access instructional resources and technology-based stations.
Examples of the multitude of technology resources and electronic learning tools regularly accessed by teachers and students are the FOSSweb (www.fossweb.com) and Everyday Math Online (www.everydaymathonline.com) extensions of our science and math curriculum, the Hour of Code programming curriculum (www.hourofcode.org), Carolina Science Online (www.tigtagcarolina.com) and the Discovery Education Techbook (http://scbeaufort.discoveryeducation.com/).
Student Opportunities
Over the past few years, we have offered a Robotics Club, and this year, we are also proud to field our first competitive robotics team with First Lego League. Currently open to fourth graders, this team meets three times per week to explore robot design, programming, and sportsmanship goals. Our school objective is to open this opportunity to more students in the future.
Online Media for Communication
Teachers at Michael C. Riley also use the official school web site (http://mcr.beaufort.k12.sc.us/pages/Michael_C__Riley_Elementary) to update our calendar with upcoming events and share our many exciting learning experiences. The school Facebook page and Twitter feed are also used to communicate events and reminders with families.
Teachers at Michael C. Riley also use the official school web site (http://mcr.beaufort.k12.sc.us/pages/Michael_C__Riley_Elementary) to update our calendar with upcoming events and share our many exciting learning experiences. The school Facebook page and Twitter feed are also used to communicate events and reminders with families.