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NASTECH News
September 2003
In the MCS Spotlight:
Merrick UFSD
The Merrick Union Free School District, servicing
children in kindergarten through grade six, has put technology where the
learning takes place, in the classrooms. Over the cour se
of the last fifteen years a minimum of three desktop computers were placed
in each and every classroom, as well as a 26 work station computer lab in
every building. The district hired a computer teacher for each building to
support curriculum driving technology. Computer hardware is upgraded
annually, as well as peripherals and software, in working towards a goal of
integrating technology into the content areas.
During the 2001 – 2002 school year, through the efforts
of a Special Legislative Grant, laptops were piloted in fifth and sixth
grade classes. Classroom teachers wrote a proposal explaining how
technology would be integrated into their everyday environment. Two
sixth grade classes and two fifth grade classes each received a cart with 10
laptop computers. One additional fifth grade class received 20 laptop
computers. The five classroom teachers worked with the District Technology
Teachers (one for each of their buildings), as well as with Nassau BOCES Model School
consultants, to help bring down the barriers and fully integrate
technology. Ongoing meetings with the pilot group helped in the
Evaluation process. At the end of the study a recommendation was made
to put a wireless cart in each fifth and sixth grade classroom, with one
laptop for every two children. An additional cart with 10 laptops was also
recommended for placement in the library of each of their buildings, as well
as providing every fifth and sixth grade classroom teacher, librarian, and
special area teacher working with fifth and sixth grade students with a
laptop. The final recommendation was to purchase additional LCD projectors
and digital cameras. The Board of Education approved the five year lease
purchase of all of the equipment. In the 2002 – 2003 school year the project
was implemented with great success.
During the planning and Evaluation phase of the pilot
year the computer committee met with representatives from every grade level
to develop a scope of technology skills. These skills now give teachers the
building blocks for the year-long technology focus. This Authentic Learning
approach focuses on technology integ ration
into the content areas which fosters higher level thinking skills, problem
solving, and communication and collaboration, with the emphasis on PROCESS,
not product. Technology is not an isolated curriculum. Skills are taught
through content area thematic units and are built into everyday routines.
Merrick has been using the ACOT Model (Apple Classroom
of Tomorrow) as the framework for all of their staff development, offering
after school and Saturday courses to support the technology integration
initiative.
This school year a wireless cart was placed in each of
the buildings with 15 laptops to be shared by the fourth grade. The
study will Evaluate the impact of the shared cart on integrating technology
into the content areas.
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