5th grade students build racing chariots from Sphero robots.
6th graders create security systems for their lockers from Little Bits
components. 3rd grade students use a design process to identify problems and
innovate solutions using Google SketchUp.
7th graders construct rubber-band powered cars utilizing the
3D printer in the Maker Space at our North Campus. 1st graders develop and test
solutions on Kodable and during their Hour of Code. Middle schoolers research the origins of the
minerals used in computer parts and study the impact on the local communities,
as well as designing and building their own electronic circuits.
In both our middle and elementary schools, students have
been pushing the bounds of their learning in STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math.)
Our talented technology teachers, Librarian deana harragarra
waters in the elementary school and Director of Technology Stephen Butler in
the middle school, inspire our students every day with an ever-evolving
curriculum that stays current with the times.
Through PLNs (Personal Learning Networks) and keeping up with latest
research, our teachers ensure that Friends School’s technology curriculum is
ahead of the curve.
“Over the past 100
years, literally thousands of studies have shown benefits from the use of
technology, while others report higher achievement with classroom instruction,
and even more result in “no significant difference.” I, like others, believe
that such mixed results reveal that the design of instruction makes the
difference in learning, not the medium used to deliver the instruction. The
question is no longer if technology
enhances learning, but rather how do we
improve our use of technology to enhance learning?”
- Atsusi Hirumi, PhD
Associate Professor, University of
Central Florida
That final question drives our instruction. How do
we at Friends improve our use of technology to improve learning? Meeting or
exceeding ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) standards,
Stephen and deana support their students in leveraging technology in choosing,
achieving and demonstrating competency in STEM.
With enough iPads and laptops in the middle school for every
student and, in the elementary building our iPad cart of 20 devices, enough for
every class, and 12 computers in our library-based computer
deana harragarra waters |
Resources used in our technology classrooms include, but are
not limited to:
Stephen Butler |
Kahoot, Sumdog, Brain
Pop, NoREDInk, Starfall, Follett Destiny Discover, Biblionasium, Google
Classroom, Kid Blog, Google Be Internet Awesome, ReadWriteThink, Internet
Library for Kids, Google SketchUp, Scratch, Hour of Code, Kodable, Google CS First,
Keynote, iBook, Doogle Draw, Android Yourself, Storybird, Canva, Padlet,
AutoDraw, Lego WeDo, Sphero, Cubelets, and more…..
Our students are challenged to create, to make, to invent
and to problem solve in a wide range of modalities that spark their creativity
and interest. Thank you to deana and Stephen for their expertise, passion and
leadership for our school.
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