Technology in Our Schools
The green apple signifies the district’s One-on-One Apple Laptop initiative dedicated in memory of graduate Kristin Green.
Technology Grants Support Teaching and Learning
Deer Park was recently awarded two important technology grants that will enable the school district to purchase instructional technology tools that support enhanced teaching and learning.
The Western Suffolk BOCES Teacher Integration Awards grant for $1,000 was given to Christopher Kauter, a social studies teacher at the high school, for “Using Mobile Technology in the Classroom,” marking the sixth consecutive year in which Deer Park has had a teacher recipient of this grant.
Kauter, a cutting-edge educator who achieved Google Certified Teacher status last year, plans to use the funding to create mobile apps for his students to use both in and out of the classroom. “This allows us to break down the traditional classroom walls,” he said, “and the students can learn on the go. The feedback from my classes has been overwhelmingly positive.”
In another exciting grant opportunity, JFK was awarded a TangerKIDS Grant, also for $1,000, which will be used to create a green screen studio at the school, similar to the one that May Moore recently established through a BOCES grant.
“The new studio at JFK will provide the technology for teachers and students to produce, edit and share organically created virtual content to support student instruction and the home/school connection,” said Andrew Choi, district administrator of instructional technology. “We aim to have the same green screen technology tools available for when the younger students move up to JFK in the next school year.”
“By implementing a studio with green screen capabilities, students could create instructional media and communicate their new knowledge with their peers and the greater audience by using 21st century technology,” said JFK Principal Susan Bonner. “In addition, we are looking to use this studio to produce virtual newscasts created by the students to inform the community about JFK events and happenings, and we would like to use this technology to replace our morning announcements.
Skyping to Save Bats at JFK
Technology took a classroom’s educational passion to another level
after John F. Kennedy fourth-grade teacher Marie Marck contacted Bat
Conservation International to explain how her fourth-grade students had
created their own “Help Save Bats!” fundraiser. The project emphasized
the ecological importance of bats and an awareness of white nose
syndrome, a deadly disease that is endangering bat populations
nationwide.
Facilitated by Andrew Choi, Deer Park’s instructional technology
administrator, the thrilled organization set up a video conference via
Skype. The entire class Skyped for almost an hour with BCI’s Texas-based
scientist Dianne Odegard, learning more details and asking detailed
questions about the lives and behaviors of bats. Through the use of
Skype technology, the students also were able to view a live bat that
was being rehabilitated by Odegard at the BCI center, bringing the focus
of their fundraising work to life in a vivid and interactive way.
Teacher Grant Brings Green Screen Studio to May Moore
With a functional green screen studio at their disposal, teachers at May
Moore will be able to expand educational and technological
opportunities for students in grades K-2 thanks to a BOCES grant they
pursued.The green screen grant had its genesis in a successful 2012 election
video project that used basic Flip cameras. It left the educators eager
to improve the school’s video capability with a green screen, which
layers video images through a process called chroma keying. “We wanted
to do a newscast for the entire school and community to see, to
introduce new technology, and to help kids with their ELA skills for the
Common Core,” explained teacher Sue Steinman.
Steinman and five other May Moore teachers – Jennifer Cambria, Jessica
Caputo, Tammy Cotrone, Dana Grafstein and Lauren McHugh – submitted a
Model Schools Grant application through Western Suffolk BOCES last May,
and won. The grant funds were utilized to entirely furnish a
professional green screen studio in the May Moore Media Center,
facilitated by computer consultant Ellen Robertson. The initiative
provides access to this exciting technology to teachers and students for
a variety of upcoming projects, including additional newscasts and the
school’s READ parent reading program, using the screen in conjunction
with laptops and programs such as Google Drive and Photobooth.
“In these days, our schools need to keep up with technology,” said
Steinman. “Without tools like this, school is not a cutting-edge place
to be.”
“We are so proud of this group of innovative teachers for taking the
initiative to pursue the Green Screen project grant,” added Principal
Alicia Konecny. “Our students are really enjoying the capabilities of
this new technology and we are hopeful for a future Spielberg or
Scorsese.”
MacBook Deployment at Robert Frost Middle School Continues Tech Initiative
Robert Frost Middle School recently completed its annual MacBook deployment, an initiative that began in 2010 as a means to increase instructional technology and provide one-to-one computing resources for the district’s students. Incoming sixth-graders receive an Apple MacBook laptop computer at the beginning of each school year, which then follows them as they continue through upper grade levels. Each summer the MacBooks are then collected by district technology staff and redistributed the following September.
This year’s laptop deployments took place in three stages at the school’s library, on Sept. 13 for sixth-graders, Sept. 18 for eighth-graders and Sept. 20 for seventh-graders. Andrew Choi, the district’s instructional technology administrator, noted that the completion of the deployments will ensure that every Frost student will have a one-to-one device.
“Our district is excited to continue to provide our students with this technology, which can be used to support lesson plans, conduct academic research, enhance curriculum and improve the students’ tech-literacy skills, and the teachers at Robert Frost are eager to use the MacBooks as part of their instruction,” said Choi.
Distance Learning Keeps Student on Sick Leave Connected
When fifth-grade student Steven was placed on
long-term medical leave following surgery, his John F. Kennedy
Intermediate teacher John Colford implemented distance-learning
technology to keep him connected to his peers and curriculum.
Every day, Steven used the communications software Skype to virtually
connect with his class from his bedside during their morning meetings.
At these meetings, which serve as important tool for students to build
recall and life skills, students review their “business cards,” describe
the weather and highlight subject areas. In addition to watching and
listening to lessons, Steven was also included in the activities of the
day and actively participated during instruction by responding to
questions.
In addition, Steven was able to enjoy read-aloud time three times a week
when the school librarian visited the classroom and read a story to him
and his classmates. Web chats also facilitated the fifth-grader’s
connection to his peers, teachers and staff.
“It’s very clear to see the spirit that Steven brings to the dynamics of
the class,” said Mr. Colford. “The students loved interacting with him
through Skype. It also allowed him to be included and to not fall behind
simply because he is at home.”
To supplement classroom lessons, Mr. Colford sent home worksheets to
Steven, who also received two hours of instruction from a teacher every
night, along with his speech and physical therapies. Steven returned to
school in early January and seamlessly re-entered class thanks to the
use of technology as an educational portal.
At right, John F. Kennedy Intermediate teacher John Colford utilized
visual props during a Skype session with a student, whose classmates
completed the same lesson simultaneously from their desks.
The Power of Technology
The district continues to advance its instructional technology program with the recent expansion of the one-to-one student laptop program. Currently, students in grades 5, 6 and 7 are equipped with personal MacBooks, covering more than 1,000 students across three grade levels and two schools.
Now in its third year, the laptop initiative has placed MacBooks in the hands of students earlier than in the previous years, which is advantageous in supporting lesson plans and academic research and enhances curriculum from essentially the start of the school year. Students will experience differentiated academic-driven activities, and future plans include providing students with virtual field trips and the opportunity to develop and publish their work to a wide Internet audience.
“Over several years the 1:1 laptop program has evolved and students are further engaged in a variety of diverse subject areas,” stated District Administrator for Instructional Technology Andrew Choi. “Instructional technology classroom resources help provide students with individualized lessons, while allowing them to learn at their own pace and challenge their learning potential.”
Language Students Connect via Videoconference
High school foreign language students studying French,
Spanish and Italian all had the opportunity to videoconference with
students at either John Quincy Adams or May Moore Elementary School in a
three-day initiative designed to benefit both groups with language
enrichment.
On day three of this effort, Ms. Conroy’s Italian class, comprised of
seniors, teleconferenced with second graders at JQA Elementary School.
“Doing this helps students express language in a fun and immersive way,” said
Deer Park Curriculum Director of World Languages/ESL Gina Palasciano.
Ms. Conroy’s class prepared skits, created posters, sang songs and used
props that reinforced the basic learning of the Italian words for
numbers, colors, animals and foods. Elementary students had worksheets
and crayons to use as they followed along during the lesson and
completed activities. The high school students sang the familiar
children’s ditty “Old MacDonald,” which they combined with their posters
and puppets to teach the names of the animals.
Students have been participating in this type of interaction between the
grades for many years, using teleconferencing for over five years. They
use SKYPE, projected onto Smartboards, to view one another, while the
camera and microphone are attached to standard computers.
Students will be celebrating National Foreign Language Week throughout the week of March 5.
An “I” on Technology
John F. Kennedy Intermediate School’s self-contained fifth-grade class, led by teacher John Colford and speech therapist Dana Hagan, were part of a team of educators, administrators, iPad app developers and camera crew that came together to showcase what students have learned using the iPad ShowMe application.
The makers of ShowMe are in the process of creating a promotional video to illustrate the exemplary use of its application in schools, and JFK was selected for its successful integration of the program into the classroom. ShowMe is an interactive whiteboard that allows users to record words, write on the tablet, and import pictures to create an original and unique final product.
To begin production, Mrs. Hagan was interviewed on how she utilizes the app during speech-language therapy, and how the tactile and phonic exercises benefit students. The class then engaged in small group work to demonstrate ShowMe lessons and reviewed previously recorded ShowMe projects featuring U.S. landmarks. Students also worked with Mr. Colford on a literary lesson, which focused on the parts of speech. The cameras documented the students’ development throughout the session as they expanded their vocabularies and improved pronunciation.
Following the taping, students had the opportunity to review the tape and learn how the audiovisual equipment is used.
iPad Technology Fulfills Special Needs
The district is at the forefront of integrating instructional technology tools into the curriculum. Most recently, the district’s special education department introduced iPads into speech therapy sessions and small group work to enhance lessons and engage students.
In conjunction with the SMART Board and SMART Table technologies, students are able to work together, practice tactile learning and build social skill sets. Speech therapists throughout the district work one-on-one with autistic students on the iPad as they explore educational websites and utilize academic applications. During class, students interact with one another and collaborate on lessons, which are guided by technology-based programs.
MacBooks Provide a Foundation for Innovation in Deer Park
Following the successful implementation of the one-to-one student laptop initiative for fifth graders at Deer Park’s John F. Kennedy Intermediate School, the district has expanded the program to include sixth-grade students. The district now employs approximately 700 Apple MacBooks, which both grade levels will utilize throughout the school year to enhance curriculum and aid in research.
Personal MacBooks were distributed to all students at the end of September, at which time teachers began incorporating the instructional technology tools into their lesson plans. Students now have the opportunity to explore academic websites, design interactive presentations and expand their general knowledge. In addition, teachers will be able to streamline classroom activities through electronic assessments and encourage collaborative learning.
The current sixth-grade class was introduced to the laptops last year and will continue to advance their skills, while fifth-grade students will learn how to best use the latest educational resource provided by the district. Fifth-grade teachers completed Apple Training last year; this year, Robert Frost Middle School sixth-grade teachers became proficient with the software and applications prior to the sixth-grade distribution.
“As leaders in educational technology, the Deer Park School District is committed to developing the technological skills of our students,” stated District Administrator for Instructional Technology, Data Warehousing and Information Andrew Choi. “Teachers are seamlessly integrating the MacBooks into classroom lessons and bringing innovative concepts, images and information into our learning environment.”
Students Connect Using Technology
The high school and May Moore Elementary School combined instructional technology tools and educational resources to provide students districtwide with a unique learning opportunity. In a program coined “Bridging SMARTBoards Across the District,” students at the high school had the ability to connect with younger students to complete joint lessons. High school students in Jill Perry-Eising’s business class interacted with Susan Steinman’s second-grade students, creating a virtual classroom experience.
To culminate the elementary curriculum unit on money, high school students directed a variety of activities focused on coins. Students worked together using SMARTBoards, MacBooks and Document and Web Cameras to solve problems that covered different money topics, which increased in difficulty and complexity.
High school students first instructed elementary students on the skills necessary to complete each task. Working individually as well as a team, elementary students displayed their work on the SMARTBoards through the use of visual aids such as coin images, cash registers and piggy banks.
Students Receive Personal Technology for Advanced Learning
The district launched its fifth-grade one-on-one laptop program with the deployment of Apple MacBooks for every student. The innovative program, coined “Kristin Green Apple of Our Eye Initiative,” was dedicated in memory of Class of 2007 graduate Kristin Green and equips students with tools for 21st century learning.
John F. Kennedy Intermediate students, accompanied by an adult, arrived at their school and received a personal MacBook from fifth-grade teachers and district administrators. Students secured their laptops with protective covers for transport and everyday use and completed the registration process in the school’s computer lab. Apple employees were on hand to assist students with their initial log-in and reviewed the standard installed software. In addition, students received a MacBook gift bag complete with power charger, memory card and other computer accessories.
The next school day students brought their laptops to class and began using the technology to support academic research and lesson plans. Teachers tailored their lessons to create an interactive learning environment in all curricular areas. Students had the ability to solve math problems utilizing visual aids, create literary logs and explore multi-media presentations. To support the use of the laptops teachers combined instructional technology tools such as SMARTBoards and projectors to enhance learning.
Prior to introducing the program, all students and parents of fifth-graders were required to attend a training workshop facilitated by Apple professionals to review topics such as the Required Use Policy, MacBook Care and Internet Safety.
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Model Classrooms & Elementary Students
District teachers have integrated the instructional technology tools of the district’s Model Classroom program into the elementary curriculum. Utilizing the new technologies within the classroom, teachers have developed innovative ways for students to interact with the tools throughout the day.
The SMART Board and accompanying document camera are a way for students to display and share their work with classmates as teachers guide lessons. Instantly transposing information from a worksheet or assignment, students can present materials as well as work together on problem-solving activities.
The classroom set of iPod Touches help to facilitate one-on-one and group work. A variety of applications allow students to complete literacy lessons and view science videos. By attaching a microphone accessory to the iPod Touch, students are able to create educational videos based on their written work and teachers are able to present curriculum topics through audio-visual methods.
In addition, the new technologies have facilitated peer-based learning. To assist English as a Second Language (ESL) students in learning the sounds of the alphabet, proficient students recorded themselves completing sound exercises on the iPod Touches and share the portable audio aids with ESL students.
The classroom MacBook serves as a hub for all educational projects and its software lets lessons come alive. Through iMovie, students have the ability to animate their words and illustrations with audio-visual presentations. Teachers and students collaborate on the production and editing of student and class work content.
All of the upcoming and completed assignments, projects and curriculum areas are showcased on classroom eBoards. The eBoard is a valuable resource for students and parents providing review and supplemental information.
MacBook Memorial
Further demonstrating its strong commitment to providing students with the tools necessary for success, the district is launching its latest initiative in instructional technology with an Apple MacBook program designed for fifth-grade students. Beginning this school year students at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School will receive a personal MacBook, which will be used throughout the year to enhance curriculum and support lesson plans.
This program is dedicated to the memory of Deer Park School District Class of 2007 graduate Kristin Green and will be known as the “Kristin Green Apple of Our Eye Initiative.” Kristin, a valued employee of the Apple Company, was killed in a tragic car accident this past summer. An academic standout, Kristin’s passion for technology drove her success within the classroom and her career.
Prior to introducing the program to students, parents of all fifth-graders were required to attend a training workshop facilitated by Apple professionals to review topics such as the Required Use Policy, MacBook Care and Internet Safety. Students are expected to start using their MacBooks in October, after they complete classroom training sessions. During the school year, fifth-grade students will use their MacBooks to conduct research projects and educationally-directed assignments and to design interactive presentations.
A Model for Innovative Technology
The district has developed and implemented the Model Classroom program and its resources in schools throughout the district. Model Classrooms were introduced into the district during the 2009-2010 school year and created an interactive learning environment for students, which are equipped with technology-based instructional tools. All materials included in the program are available for district teachers to use in order to enhance their lessons.
Sixteen teachers were selected to lead the program after completing an extensive application process, which was reviewed by a committee, Superintendent of Schools Eva Demyen and District Administrator for Technology Dr. Jared Bloom. Prior to the start of the school year these teachers attended two days of intensive training and will participate in monthly meetings during the school year to review and enhance student performance. In addition, these teachers are required to facilitate a minimum of four professional development trainings in their building to mentor district staff on the proper way to utilize technology as a means of enhancing learning opportunities for students.
Located in Deer Park High School, Robert Frost Middle School, John F. Kennedy Intermediate School, John Quincy Adams Elementary and May Moore Elementary Schools, every Model Classroom contains a wide-range of cutting-edge technology, including:
* MacBook
* iPod Touch
* Document Camera
* SMART Board
* Airliner/Slate
* Set of Smart Responders
* Video Camera
