| I have always believed that bringing technology into the
classroom for students to use is as important as the other subjects in
preparing them to be productive citizens. In the early 1980's, I
brought in the CoCo II, (Color Computer), a tape-recorder for
storing information, a small television for a monitor, and a matrix dot printer. My sixth grade students
used the computer to write small news articles and poetry. At that
time, our schools didn't have computers in the classroom, and computer
labs were unheard of in our district. Eventually, I got
the newest personal computer available, the Tandy 1000! In the 1990's, my sixth grade and fifth grade students created a
simulated news show called Channel Earth. This project motivated the
students to research environmental issues and present the information in
various forms: essays, books, and videos. Students used a
variety of technologies to prepare their work: video cameras, word
processors, and computers. I used Print Artist to create labels,
signs, etc. for the students, as well as Calendar Creator to create monthly proofreading
sentences and a calendar booklet with the birthdays of everyone in the
school.
In the late 1990's and early 2000's, my fifth grade students used various
software programs as they became available, such as Inspiration,
Timeliner, Publisher, Word, and PowerPoint. Many of the students' products
have been displayed on my websites. (I have created my own websites
since 2000.) Many of the activities my students participated in were
parts of different instructional grants that I wrote and received from Alabama Power
Company, WalMart, or the Phenix City Education Foundation.
Last year, 2005-2006, my fifth grade students utilized computers in various
locations, such as the computers in the classroom, the computer lab, Mission
Control, and the media
center to complete a variety of projects. They mainly used PowerPoint
and Word to create essays, books, presentations, activities/projects, and science fair
reports as part of the project TOPS: Teaching Other Pupils
Science.
This year, my sixth graders will create a news show called Channel
Earth. See details on the link.
I strive to keep up-to-date and utilize various types of technology. I
continue to attend technology workshops to improve my skills. Just
this summer, I attended InTech (Integrating Technology in the Classroom)
and the AETC (Alabama Education Technology Conference). Here are a few examples of my work: (I will continue to put in links.)
InTech
Teacher PowerPoint
Brochure
Teacher website
(Using Dreamweaver and Frontpage 2000)
Teacher webquest
Teacher Jeopardy Game
Excel Spreadsheet (Math checklist)
Word Processing worksheet
Word Processing lesson plans
Database
Email: sgarrett@pcboe.net
I'm fortunate to be a part of a school system that believes that technology is important. The Phenix City Public School System has
provided its faculty with a grading and lesson plan program, email, and a website
server. The system continues to place technology in the hands of its
administrators, teachers, support personnel, and students.
I use a variety of technology throughout the day. I use computer programs, such as
Accelerated Reader and Accelerated
Math for my students. Also, I make the Math series
technology program available to the students at home. I use the Exam
Maker program
from our adopted book series to create quizzes, tests, and study guides
for online
and offline. Many times
I use an LCD projector or an AverKey to project onto the wall or
television for my students to see various PowerPoints and websites.
I particularly like using the projection system to show movie clips from unitedstreaming, a program that Alabama has provided for their teachers
and students.
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