Teacher Feature

In each issue of the SAU 16 TechLetter we will feature information about how teachers are using technology in the classroom.  In this issue we speak with Janet Boggess, a kindergarten teacher at Main Street Elementary School in Exeter. 

 TechLetter:  When did you first become interested in using technology in your classroom?

JB:  About six years ago I wrote a grant proposal and had a couple of old Macintosh SE 30 computers donated to my classroom. I wanted to see if computers could improve learning in kindergarten. Almost immediately I began to observe improved student engagement, responsibility, initiative, and inventiveness; consequently, computer use quickly became a part of our daily routine.

 TechLetter:  How is technology used in your classroom?

JB:  Creativity at the writing center :  In kindergarten, we use Kid Pix Studio to create an Alphabet Book slide show that coordinates with our thematic units of study.   For example, in the fall we study the letter A and apples.   At the writing center one student will draw and write about an apple using Kid Pix. While visiting a local apple orchard, we take a digital photo of our class.  Throughout the year all of the individual alphabet pages and related digital photos are put into the Kid Pix Alphabet Book slide show.   At the end of the school year the project is shared with parents at open house.  We print a hard copy of the Alphabet Book for our class library!  Kid Pix inspires creativity, stimulates the imagination, and helps develop spatial awareness.

 Computer assisted instruction at the reading center :  In our reading center, we target individual needs at all levels by using the software program Interactive Reading Journey. This motivational program keeps track of each student’s progress with language skills.  In addition, we use various exploratory language software based on our thematic units of study.  Some of my favorites are The Living Books Software Series and Bailey’s Book House.               

 Math and science center :  At the math and science center we use software that children can explore independently.  The software encourages problem-solving skills and is more open-ended.  My favorites are Millie’s Math House, Sammy’s Science House, and Trudy’s Time and Place.  These programs have been around for a long time but they are still my favorites.

 Research:  We use various CD-ROMs when we study specific themes for reference and research.

TechLetter:  How have you updated your technology skills?

JB:  I enjoy attending the Christa McCauliffe technology conference each year and take courses through the Lesley Graduate School Technology in Education program.  I sign up for local continuing education classes and workshops that sound interesting.  Plus I enjoy diving into something new on my own that might add pizzazz to an open house presentation.  I’m currently interested in learning more about video editing.

 TechLetter:  What is your biggest success with technology?

I enjoy helping teachers learn about technology.  It’s great fun to share something you believe is a great teaching tool.  When you find something wonderful you just want to share it! 

 One of my sabbatical goals was to explore ways to use technology for better communication with parents and our community.  Working with the kindergarten team to create our Kindergarten Web Site maybe my biggest technology success.  It was nice to have the time to pull our information together and make it accessible to parents and the community via the Internet.

TechLetter:  What concerns do you have about the use of technology in schools?

I wonder: Is technology being used effectively in all classrooms? 
Do all teachers have the training needed for effective technology integration?
Do teachers have adequate time to prepare technology lessons?

 TechLetter:  Some critics say that kindergartners are too young to use technology in the classroom.  What is your reaction to this statement?  

Children learn using a variety of methods, and technology is one of them.  If used in developmentally appropriate ways, technology can be effective and motivating!  It can inspire creativity, build communication skills, develop cooperative working skills, and improve problem-solving abilities.  

I'm very excited about working cooperatively on a dinosaur technology project with Nina Baillargeon's second grade class.  The second graders explore Internet sites to gain information about dinosaurs.  The information is used by the second graders to create dinosaur models and descriptive PowerPoint presentations.  Both projects are presented to kindergarten students.  The second graders help kindergarten classes prepare KidPix dinosaur slide shows.  Once completed, a video presentation of the cooperative project will be presented on a weekly elementary television show, BookTalk, which is shown on EXTV. 

Most valuable Internet site

You will find my favorite links for teachers, parents, and students on my web site at:

http://people.ne.mediaone.net/jboggess

 Student centered Internet sites

Space  http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/

Farms  http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Farm/

Dinosaurs http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/index.html

Ground Hogs  http://www.groundhog.com

 Teacher centered Internet sites

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/matrix.html

http://sesd.sk.ca/teacherresource/webquest/k2.htm

http://www.nhptv.org/kn/home.htm

 Local workshops

http://www.nhptv.org/kn/vs/edcon1.htm

 Most useful software applications

FrontPage
Visio
Microsoft Office
PowerPoint

Managing Your E-Mail

By Andy Littlefield, Technology Coordinator, CMS

Get a Grip! Don’t let e-mail rule your life, take it from someone who knows. I first started using e-mail in 1983 with CompuServe and experienced data overload in the late 80s with mailing lists. At first, I felt important getting 150 emails a day. What a fool! If I went away for a few days I would have to wade through 400 plus messages. I wasted countless hours trying to manage the messages. Some of that information was helpful, but so much time was wasted searching for computer solutions. Over the years I’ve leaned a few tricks.

 How do you prevent data overload?

Manage your email using multiple accounts. I keep three email accounts. I use one account for professional correspondence with colleagues, one account for junk mail, and a home account for friends and family. The junk mail account is a free web mail account. If you go to yahoo.com or hotmail.com, you can set up a free email account. The account can be accessed from any web browser. I use the junk mail account for getting free information, freebies, and for keeping sales people at bay. When you set up the free account, don’t supply them with any personal information.

 File E-Mail
First Class software has many built in features that allow you to better manage the e-mail. Use the split screen view and set up folders.

You can set-up folders and drag and drop e-mails into folders for safe  keeping.

 
Right-Click the mouse and a menu for creating folders will appear on the screen.

  Is there a right and wrong way to use e-mail?
Many articles have been written about E-mail Etiquette. The University of Kansas has a link on the topic: http://www.ukans.edu/acs/email-etiquette.shtml . There are many do’s and don’ts of e-mailing. Make sure people understand how you like to use e-mail.
 
~ Do not forward people jokes and other digital garbage unless prompted.
~ Keep e-mail addresses private.
~ Use a mailing list when sending mail to multiple people.
~ Don’t send people disturbing news with an e-mail.
~ Delete unidentified e-mail.
~ Sign your name to messages.
~ Include a copy of the original message when responding to an e-mail.

E-mail is not a confidential or private medium of communication so exercise good judgment when choosing your words. Don’t write confidential information in e-mail to parents. You can get a lot more covered over the phone then with multiple e-mails back and forth. You are never guaranteed that e-mail won’t be interpreted the wrong way or be read by the wrong person. Post your hours in your e-mail so parents know when you are available for phone calls. You can also have this information be part of your signature file. You can access your signature file in the preferences file under the Edit Menu.

 Can I access First Class from Home?
There are three methods for accessing your mail from home. You can set your account at school to forward your mail to your home e-mail address. This isn’t the preferred method for managing e-mail. You can also access your e-mail via a web page. The address is http://fc.sau16.k12.nh.us/login, this will allow you access your e-mail from any web browser. The preferred method is to download the First Class Client Software from http://softarc.com and install the First Class Client software on your home computer. It works very well and is easy to install. You don’t have to pay for the client software. Just install the software and enter this address fc.sau16.k12.nh.us into the setup box labeled server. They have software for both Windows and Macintosh Systems.

Get a grip on your e-mail and relax.

Employee Computer Purchase Plan

 By Michelle Colgan, Director of Accounting, SAU 16

  We have had a number of inquiries recently about the Employee Computer Purchase Plan. Exeter School District and The Exeter Region Cooperative have offered this program to all regular employees for several years with great success. Two years ago the program was extended to all SAU 16 employees and a number of people took advantage of the opportunity.  Many of you are not aware of the program. This is a perfect time to fill you all in on what I consider to be a terrific chance to ease on to the Information Super Highway; or for those already cruising along, to make those upgrades you have been dreaming about. It could not be easier; all that we require are that you follow a few bureaucratic rules.

1.   The first step is to go shopping! Do your research and find the system you want.

2.   Ask for a Pro Forma invoice (that is just a list of equipment and prices which looks like a bill but is not an obligation), or proposal with exact pricing.

3.  You must make your purchase between June and August to enable us to process the paperwork for payroll deduction on the first payroll of the School Year.

4.  You may purchase your computer from any retailer (on-line or in town) who will accept a School District purchase order. If your chosen vendor will not accept a P.O., you may pay with a credit card and be reimbursed by the School District on the next regularly scheduled manifest.

5.  Bring your pricing document to the Business Office in the SAU 16 building to Michelle Colgan if you are a Co-op or Exeter employee or Peggy Meyer if you are with any of the other SAU 16 Elementary schools. Calling first is a good idea so that you won’t have to wait.

6.  At the Business Office you will fill out a Purchase Order for your equipment and sign an agreement to allow 22 equal deductions from your paychecks. You will get back a copy of the contract and two copies of the P.O. The signed white copy of that P.O. authorizes your purchase and you can then go pick up your new computer.

7.  Once you have had your computer for a few days and are satisfied that it is in working order, you will send in the yellow “Ok to Pay” copy of the P.O. to the Business Office which authorizes payment.

That is all there is to it, the Payroll department will automatically pay the invoice and begin deductions on the first School Year pay.

Here is the “fine print”; the equipment will be considered the property of the school District until all payments are made. You must agree to keep the equipment in good repair and to pay any balance due directly to the District if for any reason you employment is terminated. The School District in no way warrantees or guarantees the purchase or subsequent repairs but we will provide documentation of purchase if necessary. The equipment is intended for your personal use and you must agree not to resell or use it for commercial purposes. Other than that, have fun and don’t forget to join us for the workshops being offered to enhance your computer experience.

If you have questions please call Michelle Colgan at X8669. 

State of the Network

By Joe Faletra, SAU 16 District Manager for Technology Support Services

Soon the kids and teachers will be gone and it will be time for us to get busy here in Technology Services.  Please be aware that networks (all 10 schools) may be down at times between July 9th and 13th for maintenance. A reminder to all staff members to check their e-mail at least once over the summer as FirstClass automatically drops accounts that have not been used in 90 days  You can download the FirstClass client to your  home computer by going to http://technology.sau16.k12.nh.us/techdept/download.htm and follow the installation instructions (very easy) or you can go to the web via http://fc.sau16.k12.nh.us/login and access your mail directly.

 There was quite a scare at the Kensington Elementary School (KES) recently.  They were at the bad end of a lightening bolt that blew out 3 computers, 20 monitors, and the phone system.  Our department was ready to assist, and with the help of Tamara Faletra, we were able to get two lines in the main office working.  Shortly thereafter Tamara discovered a way to resurrect the old system by  bypassing the parts that were dead to bring the entire system back on line.  Jim Holt saved the monitors by degaussing each unit; a very simple procedure that was overlooked by some of us.  It always pays to have a second (or in this case a third) set of eyes look at an issue before you call it quits.

 Technology Services would like to thank all of the students and staff for being patient with us during our first year in operation.  We will continue to make program modifications over the summer in order to bring you the fastest and most complete customer service possible next school year.  We will be sending our techs to some training courses over the summer to help us with this goal.  Once again, thank you for your support!

Professional Development 

There will be number of professional development opportunities for staff members in SAU 16 during the 2001-2002 school year.  In addition to traditional workshop offerings, there are two graduate courses scheduled to be offered at SAU 16 schools.  Integrating E-learning into the Classroom will introduce educators to our e-learning software, WebCT, and provide them with the opportunity to develop projects and lessons using this new tool.  Multimedia for Educators will focus on the development of skills and curriculum materials using sound, digital images, and video.  Three graduate credits from Notre Dame College will be awarded to successful participants.  If you would like more information about these courses, please click on the following link to be added to our mailing list:  Please send me information about graduate courses.

There are many technology workshops available to SAU 16 staff at our  Summer & Fall Professional Development page. 

A number of organizations offer technology training in our area.  To find more information about these opportunities, visit the the following link:  Regional and Local Professional Development.