Dear J.:
"Me too! It has been so exciting to see all of the different lessons that teachers are designing because they have a classroom set of computers. What follows is an article that highlights some of the teaching and learning that has been going on this month in the Spirit Lake Middle School Grade 8 classes..." (Ms. S.)
Spirit Lake Middle School Pilot Provides
Evidence of New Ways to Teach and Learn
“If I didn’t have the laptops to use, I couldn’t have done the project with all of the students because of lab access,” said Spirit Lake Middle School Teacher Angela Olsen. Olsen recently introduced a project for her mathematics classes during which each student used his or her own laptop computer to research a used car online. Each student chose a car model to research, figured cost per mile, interest payments, and a multiple-year finance plan. The students emailed her the finished project when they were done—the whole project was a paperless one. Olsen said she “couldn’t believe it” when students asked to work on their car projects during study hall. She said she already knows how she will improve it in the future. “It’s a spreadsheet waiting to happen,” she said.
All of the students in Grade 8 at Spirit Lake Middle School are currently in a pilot program which allows students use of Apple laptops during the month of January. The computers have been rotated from classroom to classroom so all of the students have an opportunity to use the computers at school in core content areas. The Apple computer loan, which has been onsite since the beginning of this month, has allowed four teachers and a classroom set of computers to be used at the middle school during the project.
In mathematics, English, science and social studies, the teachers have developed student-centered activities during which students utilize the technology to learn. In algebra, students in Angela Olsen’s class are studying “slope.” Through research on the Internet, the students are learning about the construction of steps in a home. In addition to computer aided drafting and design work on the laptops, students have emailed local contractors for opinions and advice in an effort to determine the “best” size of step and degree of slope to be constructed to meet the needs of the general population.
The history of writing the U.S. Constitution is at the center of lessons in Kim Miller’s social studies. The students are participating in an online simulation during which they become a member of the original Constitutional Convention. On a teen-based, Internet news site, students will be blogging with other students across the country and sharing their opinions through news articles. During the unit, the students will also be utilizing a site that allows them to review vocabulary appropriate to the content.
Chemical reactions are the central focus of Randy Graff’s science classes. The students will be involved with online interactive experiments and chemical equation balancing. Through these simulations, students will be able to visually see chemical equations in graphic as well as mathematical terms. Because these simulations are online, they provide a safe and cost-effective way for students to experience and learn the curriculum.
In English language arts, students are studying persuasive writing. Chris Block, the teacher facilitates student research on the Iowa AEA Online (databases), but each student has chosen his or her own topic for the project. At Iowa AEA Online, the students are researching the pros/cons about their topics. Students will also be exploring the utilization of multimedia and photos for their final projects. For example, students may embed a video or a sound clip in addition to photos in their digital documents.
All of the teachers are writing written reflections of their experiences with the laptops in the classroom. Chris Block, 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher, commented about the high level of student engagement the laptops bring to the process writing class. Block described the scenario during which a student eventually asked, “Did the bell ring?”
“I already know what I’m going to title my reflection,” she said. “It will be, ‘Did the bell ring?’ When the bell rang, none of the kids got up. They were so into exploring their topic on the Internet for their persuasive [writing] topics,” said Block.
Log in to http://mscomputerpilot.blogspot.com for more information, classroom videos and student/teacher comments regarding the Spirit Lake Middle School 1:1 Pilot Program.
On Feb. 2, the community of Spirit Lake will have the opportunity to approve a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). All of the revenue raised by the PPEL will be spent on a technology initiative which includes a laptop computer for every student in grades 5-12, mobile carts of laptops for students in grades K-4, laptop for every teacher, handheld science devices, special education technology, mathematics calculators, digital/video cameras, projectors and whiteboard technology. The complete package facilitated by Apple includes all of the hardware, software, service/support, security and virus monitoring, wireless access in the district, and warranty agreements.
For more information about the PPEL, visit the Spirit Lake School District website at http://www.spirit-lake.k12.ia.us School patrons can also call the school district office at 336-2820 or email Spirit Lake School Superintendent Dave Smith at dsmith@spirit-lake.k12.ia.us
