After almost three weeks it seems to have calmed down a little bit. I wanted to catch up and go over what we have been up to in the Computer Lab. I also wanted to post some pictures to give you and idea of the lab itself. To keep busy, other than classes using the lab, I have been creating classes in Odyssey. For those that don't know
Odyssey is a great on-line tool that is used in school and at home. We had a great summer time program set-up utilizng Odyssey which was well recieved. With each year and the students moving up, the Technology Aide, me, will re-set the classes in preperation for the new year. Along with Odyssey we use
Type to Learn 4. This is a great typing program for all ages. It is really good in that it is smart enough to detect the students skill level and then present activities to match all the while teaching typing. I have set up classes in this program. We also have poster boards on the lab walls to show progress for the 4th grade. That is still to do.
Another of the tools that Upper Merion provides to the Elementary schools are laptops. We have a total of 51 laptos that can be used by the students. 26 are housed in what we call Cart A. This cart, based on a schedule, will travel to the student's classrooms. We also have another cart of 25 laptops known as Cart B. The name is not too imaginative, but it works. This cart is broken up and teachers are loaned laptops to be kept in their classrooms. Most teachers have one or two at most. Another nice option is the wireless printer on Cart A. It gives the teachers a really close printer resource where their students can print from. Otherwise they need to take the hike to the lab.
Speaking of the lab, here it is. I consider it a work in progress as to the machine organiztion and the wall coverings. I am always looking for new ways to show how important computers are and how they are everywhere. I just recently added a computer themed Alphabet and would like to begin working on getting a really big keyboard graphic that I can blow up and put on the wall. I found this great program last year that will take any picture and en-large it on regular paper. You then put the paper together kinda like a puzzle for the large design. Really usefull. It is called PosteRazor. Well worth the free download. That's it for now. I will work on getting my wall displays up next.
After almost three weeks it seems to have calmed down a little bit. I wanted to catch up and go over what we have been up to in the Computer Lab. I also wanted to post some pictures to give you and idea of the lab itself. To keep busy, other than classes using the lab, I have been creating classes in Odyssey. For those that don't know Odyssey is a great on-line tool that is used in school and at home. We had a great summer time program set-up utilizng Odyssey which was well recieved. With each year and the students moving up, the Technology Aide, me, will re-set the classes in preperation for the new year. Along with Odyssey we use Type to Learn 4. This is a great typing program for all ages. It is really good in that it is smart enough to detect the students skill level and then present activities to match all the while teaching typing. I have set up classes in this program. We also have poster boards on the lab walls to show progress for the 4th grade. That is still to do. 
Another of the tools that Upper Merion provides to the Elementary schools are laptops. We have a total of 51 laptos that can be used by the students. 26 are housed in what we call Cart A. This cart, based on a schedule, will travel to the student's classrooms. We also have another cart of 25 laptops known as Cart B. The name is not too imaginative, but it works. This cart is broken up and teachers are loaned laptops to be kept in their classrooms. Most teachers have one or two at most. Another nice option is the wireless printer on Cart A. It gives the teachers a really close printer resource where their students can print from. Otherwise they need to take the hike to the lab.
Speaking of the lab, here it is. I consider it a work in progress as to the machine organiztion and the wall coverings. I am always looking for new ways to show how important computers are and how they are everywhere. I just recently added a computer themed Alphabet and would like to begin working on getting a really big keyboard graphic that I can blow up and put on the wall. I found this great program last year that will take any picture and en-large it on regular paper. You then put the paper together kinda like a puzzle for the large design. Really usefull. It is called PosteRazor. Well worth the free download. That's it for now. I will work on getting my wall displays up next.
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