TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY

SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Presented by: Ghanim Alenzi and Patricia Faulhaber

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Introduction Today’s world is filled with technology. From the day we are born (maternity ward testing and monitoring equipment) to the day of our wake (DVD’s showing pictures and movies of our lives to our loved ones), we are surrounded by, supported by and have to work with some form of technology. It is here in vengeance and will remain as such for decades to come.  Our schools have a great responsibility to teach the needed knowledge and skills to our children so that they can survive in the present and thrive in the future. The days of teaching grade school children how to use only pen and paper, are long behind us. Today, we have to teach our children how to use technology to its fullest.   If we fail to teach children from the first day they enter school until the day they graduatate high school not only how to use technology itself but how to use technology to study, to research and to work, our children will be left with a disadvantaged future.  With a multitude of technology available to schools today, the following plan shows how we can integrate technology into curriculum for almost every topic for students in the seventh grade. Not only will the projects work for technology day, they will help the student throughout the school year.

Summerdale Schools, Students & Technology

Summerdale Schools is considered to be a suburban district located in central Ohio. With a school population of over 15,000 students (K-12), the district serves students from a 40 mile radius. Summerdale’s students come from families with a wide-range of income. The district is supported by local levies and is financially fit as of today. Our district is ranked high in the state for academics.

Summerdale’s students study hard, embrace learning and have positive attitudes toward learning and using technology.

Summerdale’s K-5 classrooms all have 3 to 6 computers in the classroom as well as having access to three different technology labs containing 20 plus computers.

Students in classrooms grades 6 through 9 all have 6 to 10 computers per classroom as well as having access to three different technology labs with 20-plus computers.  

Depending on the area of study, high school classrooms may have 1 or 2 computers to being fully equipped with one computer per student All classes have access to three different technology labs with 40 plus computers.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Computer Labs Most of Summerdale’s computer

and technology labs are equipped with mid-range computers (storage and speed), flat screen monitors, one laser printer per lab, high-speed Internet access, and a wireless network.

 There are three labs for the high school that contain super-computers, high speed Internet, wireless network, scanners, color laser printers, microphones, and other audio equipment for producing podscasts and vidcasts, etc.

 Grades 4 through 9 have 30 digital cameras available for classroom projects. The equipment was purchased last year using a grant.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Recommendations for a Technology-Rich

Curriculum Having such a solid foundation of

available technology and with the enthusiasm of the student-body and faculty at Summerdale Schools, building a technology-rich day and curriculum is certainly possible and is much needed to help students prepare for the 21st Century skills they need to succeed.

The following tables illustrate how Summerdale Schools can develop and implement technology in seventh grade easily and effectively.

References:Flood, A. and Bamford, A.(2007). Manipulation, simulation, stimulations: the role of art education in the digital age. International Journal of Education through Art, Volume 3 Number 2, 91-101.Sampson, H. (2006). Teacher uses books, blogs: Blogging may be the newest way to engage students in language arts. Miami Herald, The (FL), 10/10/2006. 

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Reference:Tran, T. (2001). Opportunities for Geography Students Widen with Advent of Information System. Grand Forks Herald (ND), 01/21/2001

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Reference:APA citations: usa,by karen Lawrence,(2007),teacher overcomes barriers to learning using smart products.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Reference:APA Citation:USA,byAdam wasserman ,(2005,Des),Podcasts explained

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Linking Learning Activities to 21st Century Skills

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills developed a Framework for 21st Century Learning that included skill sets for:

Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes

Learning and Innovative Skills

Information, Media and Technology Skills

Life and Career Skills

The following information shows how the proposed Technology-Rich Day activities provide the students with the needed skill sets to meet the 21st Century.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

21st Century ThemesCore Subjects Art: Students will learn global awareness through researching photographers from across

the global and across the centuries Language Arts: Students will learn global awareness by having their blogs read by others

across the world. Social Studies: Students will learn geography and civic boundaries of the United States. Math: Students will learn math skills needed for financial, economic and business related

careers. Music: Students will learn global awareness through different types of music.

Learning and Innovative Skills: Art: Students will learn how to use technology in a creative manner that also provides

hands-on practice of critical thinking and problem solving as well as communication skills by researching photographers and creating photographic portfolios of their own work.

Language Arts: Students will learn creativity by writing their blogs. Social Studies: Students will learn to use creativity and innovation to learn the shapes

and locations of states and they will learn critical thinking skills by placing the states in the proper region.

Math: Students will learn critical thinking and problem solving by using new and exciting technologies.

Music: Students will learn creativity and innovation through different types of music and through different and new technologies to record and listen.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

 Information, Media and Technology Skills: Art: Students will learn to effectively use information, media and technology to research

photographers.

Language Arts: Students will learn to effectively use information and technology to write and publish blogs.

Social Studies: Students will learn information and technology skills to place the states in the proper region.

Math: Students will learn numerical related information and technology skills.

Music: Students will learn about media literacy by using podcasting technologies as a new way to record and listen.

 Life and Career Skills: Art: Students will learn to take initiative and be self-directed when completing their

research and building their own photographic portfolios.

Language Arts: Students will use social and cross-cultural skills when publishing their blogs and receiving feedback from persons from across the world.

Social Studies: Students will learn flexibility and adaptability when placing the states by learning from their mistakes and trying again until they are placed correctly.

Math: Students, through learning math skills, will learn about productivity, flexibility, adaptability, initiative and self-direction skills.

Music: Students will learn social and cross-cultural skills.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

Project summary:As you can see from the projects described in this presentation, incorporated technology into any classroom, especially for seventh graders, is seamless and highly meaningful to the student’s learning. Integrating the listed technologies will help students meet 21st century skills needed to be productive and effective citizens, employees, and mentors for future generations.

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS

After viewing the research presented today, hopefully you’ll agree building a technology-rich day and a technology-rich curriculum for use throughout the year can encourage students to learn and to immediately apply their learning while building vital skills for the future.  

 Thank you for your support and encouragement.

 

TECHNOLOGY-RICH DAY SUMMERDALE SCHOOLS