Ranchwood+Elementary


 * Ranchwood Elementary **

We have several useful tools that can potentially provide several avenues for student learning. We have approximately ten Smartboards, two airliners,one Senteo response system, two projectors, two document cameras, front row systems, and the typical overhead projectors, DVD/CD players, and classroom computers. Ranchwood is equipped with a thirty station computer lab, a Smartboard in the library, and two additional projectors for classroom use. Ranchwood has a subscription to Study Island, Enchanted Learning, and Discovery Education's United Streaming.Our cafeteria is equipped with a large projector, an airliner, DVD/CD player, networked computer, scanner, sound system, and a Zune mp3 player.
 * What we have now:**

One of our largest assets is the number of teachers interested in learning about and using technlogy in their classrooms. Several of the teachers use online products such as Animoto, Teacher Tube, Web-Central, Study Island, Compass. and a variety of software packages. Our other premium asset is our principal that is very supportive in our attempts at integrating technology into our lessons and activities. She is attentative to available alternative resources such as grants and is encourages Ranchwood teachers to apply for those available funds.

We would like to equip every teacher with what has become almost the basic needs for an elementary classroom: a Smartboard, DVD/CD player, iPod, networked computer stations or laptops for teacher and student use, a scanner, a web camera, compact HD video camera, and an airliner. We feel access to many programs and sites we are currently unable to access is important to the successful inclusion of technology in the classroom.
 * What do we need.:**

It is increasingly important that our student become part of the global society that they will be expected to be familiar with as adults. Students need to experience other cultures and see that the world expands beyond the 73099 zip code. In order for teachers to include global education in their classrooms they need to be able tomake use of available tools such as Skype. Access is the key to our ability to communicate with classrooms from around the world.

While equipment and access are important elements, pedagogy is the determining factor in a successful classroom where learning happens. Providing a laptop for every child won't ensure their ability to write so we need information that will help us orchestrate all of the regular classroom challenges and include technology. We need time to plan and collaborate with others on ways to reach individual children with all of our wonderful tools of technology in order to ensure learning ocurrs for that child.

Our technology inservices need to be spent on incorporating technology with effective teaching practices instead of learning to use software or hardware in isolation. We can learn to use "inspiration" but can we incorporate it effecetively into a writing lesson? We need information on including technology as a part of the art of skillful teaching not just adding technology to a lesson.


 * What do we want:**

Ranchwood teachers returned a survery of things they would like to have for their student in the way of technology. Teachers have requested: Smartboards, Smart tables, additional networked computers, wireless laptops for students, document cameras, software games, scanners, digital cameras, iPods, iPads, Zunes, Senteo response systems, online textbooks, webcams, and access to blocked sites.

Podcasting equipment, closed circuit TV, and the equipment for video/audio recording would be an icredible addition to any elementary school. We would like to obtain such equipment so teachers can record lessons to assist with homework, attach videocasts to their web page to update parents or show examples of concepts being done in class, alllow students to write their own news program or share other classroom activities like science experiments between classes.

Ranchwood has considered the usefulness of a Smart room that is equipped with Smart board, table, camera, a laptop or netbook cart, an iTouch cart, and an iPad. We thought it would be helpful to have all of the tools we want to use in one place which will prevent teachers from having to borrow from classrooms or check items out from the library. It would also allow teachers to make sense of the way all of the tools fit together.

Teachers at Ranchwood have agreed tha a Smart board would be extremely helpful in the computer lab. It would allow teachers to go through web-based lessons with students, to enhance lessons students are working on, and to work with students in need of remediation during the computer lab time.


 * Talk about pedagogy, practice and process as well as specific applications and hardware:**

Again we want instruction or ideas on ways to incorporate technology into our classrooms while practicing effective teaching. We need successful teachers that use pedagogy to drive the technology included in lessons and not the other way around to facilitate workshops. We want to learn about the technology that is available, what it is for, and how it can best be used to further our students' education.

It is important that we obtain technology that will benefit students not just those things that are new, cool, or make delivering a lesson easier for the teacher. Technology in the classroom needs to be something the students are allowed and encouraged to use instead of something that sits on a shelf so it doesn't get broken, until the teacher learns how to use it, or until the teacher can build a lesson that will include it.

A process through which teachers can examine, use, and evaluate types of A process through which teachers can examine, use, and evaluate types of technology before a building commits to spending several thousand dollars to purchase it only to find out that it isn't what it seemed. A try before you buy would certainly limit the number of items that are purchased because a saleman or colleague created excitement over something and then a teacher discovers that it doesn't really fit his/her needs.


 * Required Elements**

1 Strategies: The first step in building strategies to increase achievement in academic areas and improve techinical literacy is to set a standard or definition of technical literacy. We may consider setting standards or definitions for students and teachers or setting benchmarks for tudents. Each building site should have a 'technology' mentor that can assist teachers in planning lessons that include technology and in the actual use of the technology tools available.

One of the most important components when listing strategies is to provide professional development that meets the needs of the teachers. Generally professionsal development includes the physical use of equipment and often revolves around the use of a computer and possibly a certain software package. Professional development would be changed to providing more knowledge of how to effectively use and manage the use of technology while maintaining effective teaching practices instead of teaching technology in isolation..

Time for collaboration within grade levels and possibly between grade levels should be embedded in the teachers' day to allow them to generate ideas, share failures and successes, and to develop ways to incorporate technology into their lessons and avoid the trap of fitting lessons into technology. Ranchwood teachers often share ideas regarding new skills or tips. We do meet in grade level teams and sometimes between grade levels to collaborate but generally technology is a small part of those meetings.

Once we have benchmarks in place we would obtain the technology needed to allow teachers fully incorporate it into lessons without having to make do with bits and pieces of equipment. Ranchwood has several classroooms equipped with Smartboards, some provided by the district and some provided by our PTO, and one Smart board is located in the library to provide access to teachers without one in their classroom. We have front row systems to improve the ability of students to separate the teacher's from background noises. We have managed to connect many of our audio visual devices to the front row system to enhance the use of such technology. Many teachers have purchased software with PTO funds and our principal has purchased licenses for Study Island, a web-based program, for grades two through five.

Providing assistive technology for students to ensure every student has access to information, software, and other learning oppportunities. Remediation would be enhanced with such technology and would allow equitable access to learning opportunities.

Providing opportunites for distance learning opportunities and global exchanges needs to be a part of every schools' plan to incorporate technology. Recently a Ranchwood student made a trip to China and soon we will have student making a trip to India. The student in China provided video interviews with people of China, information and pictures of the cities and historical features, and video of many aspects of his trip. The video was immediately uploaded to you tube so it could be shared with Ranchwood students. The student going to India has made arrangements with her parents to provide the same opportunities for Ranchwood students to experience India.

An additional strategy is to have teachers record sample lessons or examples of skills taught in the classroom or to record students explaining concepts then upload the video to each teacher's web site. Teachers will also copy those lessons to DVD's so students will have access to them at home either from the computer or using a DVD player.

2.**Goals**: Goals include having students complete multimedia presentaions for project-based learning activities instead of drill and practice activities. Teachers and students will collaborate on multimedia portfolios fin the first and fourth quarter of each academic year from kindergarten through fifth grade to evaluate progress. Students wll be provided with access to assistance on homework after hours either through recorded lessons, a teacher helpline, videocast or podcast.

Elementary students will have access to technology and teacher assistance in creating a news program using closed circuit TV. Students will be responsible for video, audio, editing, writing, and presenting the program school-wide. This gaol will provide for practice of the OK PASS objectives regarding the use of technology and productivity, tools, communication tools, presentation, and decision making.

Ranchwood is currently using Animoto and some software packages to allow students to create morning commercials for academic areas. One such activity involved fifth grade students illustrating an acronym for metric measurement prefixes, recording/taking digital images, and putting the slides together to make a "commercial" for math.

Using textbooks online with access at home and in the classroom is a goal the Ranchwoods would teachers would like to pursue. Some teachers currently have some textbooks on line linked to their web pages so students don't have to take books home and can't use the excuse of "I forgot my book." Some textbook companies affer additional activities associated withy their online books.

Providing every student with a laptop or netbook will make many of these goals more obtainable. Many but not all students have computer access at home so they are limited in their ability to put their technology skills into practice.

3. **Steps to increase accessability**: Many students have computers and internet access at home. The schools could purchase through grants or other funding a netbook, iTouch or iPad for every student that would be checked out through the library and the responsibility of that student. Teachers could be compensated for extra duty to oversee a computer lab or Smart room equipped with technology to assist students that need extra help,complete homework or projects. In high-needs schools volunteer groups could be solicited to help staff a Smart room or lab so the student - adult ratio would be smaller thus a more effective environment.