1st+Year+Use

A Year In Review

It has been a very successful first year for the CFF initiative in STSD. The purpose of this page is to share examples of how this years CFF teachers have used the technology tools offered by CFF to improve instruction in their classrooms. The ultimate goal in everything we do as teachers is improved student learning and achievement. Technology, as a tool, is best used when fused with quality lesson plans designed to accomplish student learning goals. Take a look at how our teachers have used technology this year:


 * Promethean Interactive White Boards**

Our **math** teachers have improved instruction through the use of their boards this year. The board has many great tools that are quick and easy to use. They include graphs, stright lines, circles, triangles and more. Our math teachers are also enjoying the use of the virtual TI83 Calculator that allows them to show students how to use the functions on the calculator without having to attend to each student individually. Mr. Burleigh and Mrs. Litzelman have explored the [|www.prometheanplanet.com] site and used excellent predesigned flip chart lessons from the site.

Mr. Smith uses [|www.googleearth.com] on a daily basis to show his **history** students the places he is teaching about on his Promethean board. Mrs. Smith saves classroom notes from her Promethean board then e-mails them to her absent **math** students. Mr. Munford has created power point presentations of many of his **history** lectures showing them on his Promethean board as a lesson guide. Many of our teachers are posting bell ringer assignments on their boards then saving them for future use. Finally, all of our teachers have taken advantage of the many online video offerings to enhance instruction through streamed or downloaded educational videos. These sites include: [|www.unitedstreaming.com] [|www.thefutureschannel.com] [|www.teachertube.com] [|www.metacafe.com] [|www.googlevideo.com]

At the very least it seems that just a projector has made a difference this year but according to Barb Stager "I don't know what I'd do without my Promethean Board."


 * Lap-Top Computers**

The lap-tops have helped to "free" the computer labs. **English and History** teachers regularly have students doing research right in the classroom. The lap-tops have also opened the door to project-based learning. Mrs. Sember had her 11th grade **English** class create a research web page as an alternative to a research paper. Using [|www.googlepages.com] the students were able to create simple web sites for free. Some of our teachers have also posted teacher web sites using google pages. Check out Mr. Redells **Math and Science** page http://dredell57.googlepages.com/

Several teachers have used online collaborative wiki and blog sites encouraging students to have online discussions, post assignments and review each others assignments. Check out Mr. Hafletts **Science** discussion board wiki or Mrs. Sembers **English** classroom wiki and blog at [|www.haflettsroom.wikispaces.com] [|www.semberwiki.wikispaces.com] [|www.semberclass.21classes.org] (blog)

Ms. Deljanovan had her students research the effectiveness of ad campaigns then create their own radio ads as podcasts using [|www.audacity.com] (free download). It served as a valuable assessment of student learning.

Mr. Freeman has used his lap-tops to create a "paperless" **history** classroom through [|www.blendedschools.net] Jason Fletcher has worked on several **video projects** using windows movie maker and imovie with his **English** classes. fletch movies and skype gyekis broughton collab brooke? camera web cam