Great Neck School District technology questionnaire
These are the replies from some districts to the Newsday questionnaire regarding the use of new technologies in their classrooms.
Some of the answers are elaborate, and have not been edited or reduced. Some districts did not answer the questions directly.
We have eleven school programs and when you review all that is going on in our schools and classrooms with new technology and innovative teachers, the big picture is quite extensive and impressive. We have many other technologies we didn’t even mention in our summary that have been ongoing here for more than three years, such as Foreign Language Labs, ScanTek Modular Technology Labs, Science Probe Labs, and many different software applications and Web-based activities.
DISTRICT-WIDE
1. SMARTBoards, Infocus Projectors, Lumens Document Cameras - Used in most classrooms for interactive teacher presentations during lessons integrating technology with the curriculum from K-12 grade levels.
2. Converged Network for Voice, Data, and Video – Network includes Voice Over IP phone system in every classroom and a digital video security system monitoring secondary entrances, exits, and parking lots.
3. Going Green Initiative - District Web site, Infinite Campus Parent Portal for parent access to student information such as schedules, attendance, and report card grades, and ParentLink Notification System for routine and emergency communications via phone, e-mail, or text message.
4. GNPS TV and Studio – Our own district television channel which broadcasts on Cablevision and Verizon to the local community and gives students first hand experience in what goes on in a professional television studio. Students learn to be camera operators, technical directors, audio engineers, and on-air talents (not last three years but worth mentioning).
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
E.M. Baker School (Grades K-5)
1. Videoconferencing – Baker students use the Polycom videoconferencing system to experience many distance learning programs. Students connect with NASA and the National Archives and participate in interactive learning programs such as the D.C. Tour and the U.S. Constitution workshop exploring primary source documents.
2. Skype and Global Citizenship – Baker students have the opportunity to be global citizens and collaborate with students around the world using Skype. As 21st century learners, they solve real world problems and engage in cooperative learning experiences. Last year, we connected with Greece, France, Canada, and Taiwan via SKYPE. Many of our sessions centered on the question, “What can you do to be a good global citizen?” and “How are we alike and different?”
3. Multimedia Applications – Baker students utilize multimedia applications, iPods, and Flip Video cameras to create and share digital stories, original book trailers, and digital animations. These same tools will be used to support TESL students.
4. Blogs – Baker teachers are utilizing blogs in their classrooms as an easy-to-use interactive tool for students to present, organize, share, collaborate, and preserve their work. A Baker Book blog will be rolled out this year as well, as a way to communicate book reviews.
5. Qwizdom Response Systems - Qwizdom is used as an interactive tool to engage and motivate students in math and monitor and record student progress.
John F. Kennedy School (Grades K-5)
1. Qwizdom Response Systems - Clickers used by 4th and 5th graders to respond to answers on tests/quizzes, voting, data collection
2. Videoconferencing – Virtual field trips and collaborative projects with Albany Institute of History and Art (Colonial Artifacts). Students are presented with artifacts and information from the museum and are given the opportunity to ask questions.
3. Student Webmasters - Twenty fifth grade students are given the opportunity to create and design web pages (using Dreamweaver) to be added to our school Web site.
Lakeville School (Grades 1-5)
1. Skype and Global Citizenship – 4th and 5th grade students Skype with penpals from around the state and country. Additionally, they have had experiences such as video conferences with a physicist from Brooklyn College, to support their studies on DNA.
2. Multimedia - Students are streaming video, creating voice bits, and generating multiple intelligence projects.
3. Edmodo and Blogging - Students in 4th and 5th grade are heavily involved in the use of Edmodo. Through this vehicle, students are having experiences with distant learning environments and blogging, controlled by the classroom teacher. Furthermore, as it presents as a social networking environment, modeling of proper netiquette when blogging is also being reinforced.
4. iPods for TESL Instruction - Our TESL teacher uses iPods to have students listen to recordings of stories in order to improve their fluency.
These students are able to practice proper English with the help of podcasts created for them by their ESL teacher. They are given content material to practice with the material on an iPod to reinforce skills. These iPods are signed out by the students. Additionally, podcasts are online, as part of the TESL portion of the Lakeville site, where students can hear these podcasts from anywhere with Internet access (photos available)
Parkville School (Grades PreK & K)
1. Videoconferencing - Virtual field trips and videoconferencing in the library
2. Podcasts - Kindergarten students work from Writers Workshop using Garageband software and for 100th Day Celebration.
3. MusicPad Pro - Tablet computer used by music teacher for electronic sheet music.
Saddle Rock School (Grades K-5)
1. iPods for TESL Instruction - Our TESL teacher uses iPods to have students listen to recordings of stories in order to improve their fluency.
2. Flip Video Camcorders – Students in fifth grade record footage to create movies and teachers record writing celebrations and e-mail the movies to parents that are unable to attend the activity during the day because of conflicts with work.
3. Student Webmasters - Fifth grade students are given the opportunity to create and design web pages with Dreamweaver to be added to our school Web site.
4. Wireless Laptop Cart – Available to all teachers to encourage collaborative, technology-based projects in the classroom.
5. KidsBlog – A kid-friendly blog site used by a fourth grade teacher to foster reading discussions.
6. Jing – Technology lessons are being recorded to podcase and share with students who may need reinforcement or may have been absent during the original lesson.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
North Middle School (Grades 6-8)
1. ESL Wireless Laptop Cart, iPod and Digital Camera Initiative – ESL students use a wireless laptop cart for online translators, current events, educational language applications, and a variety of computer applications. iPods are used for listening to podcasts such as CNN Student News and taking quizzes created on the iQuiz software. They also use a multimedia projector to display their PowerPoint presentations and video projects, digital cameras to take pictures on trips and using the photographs in slide-shows, and digital camcorders for recording a newscast.
2. Nook Electronic Books in Library – The library will be using three Nooks to pilot ebook readers during this school year.
3. Spreadsheet Surveys and Podcasts – Our seventh grade computer students use Microsoft Excel to create spreadsheets and charts of data collected by surveying students in our school. From there, the students analyze their results and use Microsoft Word to write an audio podcast script. These podcasts, audio recordings, are created using Garageband. The students edit their own audio, as well as, manipulate multiple audio tracks, which include music and sound effects.
South Middle School (Grades 6-8)
1. Connected Classroom Pilot Program – 1:1 laptop initiative and 2:1 iPod Touch initiative for an interdisciplinary team of 7th grade teachers to use to fully integrate technology and Web 2.0 activities into the regular classroom.
2. Morning News Program – A student club produces, directs, and brodcasts a morning news program to the school through an analog video distribution system which is viewed through classroom projectors during homeroom each day.
3. Sound Field Systems – Audio enhancement to selected classrooms to improve sound quality and clarity for teacher and student speech.
North High School (Grades 9-12)
1. Moodle and Edmodo Open Source Learning Management Systems – Online classroom and Web 2.0 collaboration tools to extend our teaching and learning into cyberspace offering greater communication amongst all learning participants.
2. Netbook Mobile Cart and TurnItIn.com - We have implemented a 1:1 Netbook cart in the English department classrooms with the inclusion of TurItIn.com to increase student interest in writing and ward off the temptation of plagiarism. In addition, teachers are using TurnItIn’s online editing and revision tools to help students improve writing in a paperless environment.
3. Video Game Design Course – We have created and implemented an online (and soon to be daytime course) in video game design.
4. Student Response System (Clickers) - We have implemented with some classes student response systems both dedicated and online to aid in real time assessment of learning.
5. Google Docs - We have integrated Google Docs and other Web 2.0 technologies (DropIo, VoiceThread, and Animoto to name a few), allowing for the creation, design, editing, mixing, remixing and sharing of the written word and rich media learning products (podcasts, vodcast, videos etc...)
6. Online Databases - We have incorporated databases from various sources including but not limited to NOVEL, GNPL, NYPL, with the addition of commercially available databases (JSTOR & Gale) to aid in teacher and student research. In addition, we are moving to eTexts and are using eReaders and Libre to aggregrate online global news content for students and teachers.
7. Local and Global Communication - We have begun to combine efforts of our television production courses, video conferencing and web conferencing to allow us to communicate locally and globally. For example our students have Skyped with students from another country and we have used our videoconferencing system to conference with classes from other states. In addition our students have used the Sony AnyCast system to create content for GNPS TV.
8. OddysseyWare Online Curriculum Software - Our Special Education Department has recently adopted OddesseyWare an online curriculum software to help in the differentiation of instructional content for students.
9. Wii Fit in Education - Adaptive PE has integrated the Wii Fit into their curriculum to aid students with disabilities to accces PE.
South High School (Grades 9-12)
1. Robotics Program – The Robotics Program at South High is the embodiment of how technology inspires students to be creative problem solvers. This program, in its third year at SHS, requires teamwork, problem solving, computer programming, design of functional robots and includes the use of Bluetooth technology in the operation of the robot. Students are also competing against other schools on both the local and national level through the FIRST Robotics Competition..
2. Blogs - Course Blogs have become a popular tool for teachers in English and Art, students share ideas, reflect upon their work and the work of others and teachers can monitor and provide supplementary material, and questions to think about.
3. LCD Displays and Video Communications Course – Video Communications course utilizes current technologies to keep the school community well informed. Monitors posted around the building display news, video highlights of events including classes, performances, athletics and daily announcements.
4. iPods for TESL – TESL Students use iPods to create podcasts to tell a story. They also watch videos and listen to music to reinforce vocabulary, articulation and to better understand the reading and use of language.
5. TI-Nspire Calculators - TI-Nspire Calculators are the latest calculator with innovative touchpad navigation. Students are able to perform both symbolic and numeric calculations, observe cause-and-effect scenarios and save work like a computer. Students can explore and test math relationships on their own. They can now have a deeper understanding of what is taught in the classroom and can apply it in different ways.
6. Qwizdom Response Systems - Several teachers have utilized these hand held audience response systems in their classrooms. Teachers create content and then poll their classes in a fun interactive, engaging exercise.
7. WebAssign - Several teachers have signed up to use WebAssign or similar sites that provide online instructional tools. Teachers can create assignments online and electronically transmit them to their classes. Students can answer online and WebAssign automatically grades the assignment and gives students feedback on their performance.
8. Teacher-Created Web Sites - Teacher created websites are used to post information about the course, notes, handouts and any information about the class. Students can catch up on any missed work by visiting the teacher‚s website to download smartboard notes, handouts and get homework information. Students also email teachers with questions and when help is needed.
9. Secure Wireless Network – South High uses a secure wireless network with 16 “hot-spots” for wireless access to our network for district-owned equipment and and for administrators to use handheld iPod Touch devices to check student schedules on the go. The wireless network also accommodates teachers who wish to bring their own personal laptops into school and go online with them to access Internet resources.
SEAL Academy (Grades 9-12 Alternative High School located at our Clover Drive building; SEAL is an acronym for Supportive Environment for All Learners)
1. 1:1 Laptop Initiative – A wireless laptop for each student providing the opportunity to learn using 21st century tools and resources.
2. Edmodo – An online education microblogging site we use to expand the teaching and learning process into Cyberspace
3. KidBlogs – An educational blog site we use that integrates with our ELA curriculum to enhance student writing and critical thinking skills.
4. Aventa – An online course credit recovery system we use to allow students to make up lost credit by taking an online course through the Web.
5. Google Docs – The integration of Google Docs and other Web 2.0 technologies which allows our students to create, edit, mix, re-mix, and share their work.
Village School (Grades 9-12 Alternative High School, 40-50 students)
1. 1:1 Laptop Initiative – A wireless laptop for each student and teacher providing the opportunity to learn using 21st century tools and resources.
2. ProTools Digital Music Recording – Village School has a music-equipped digital recording studio that uses ProTools software, in addition to Web 2.0 music software enabling the creation, mixing, remixing, production and sharing of original compositions.
3. Online Course – Village offers an course called Your Digital Life which allows students to explore their digital world in an organized and safe environment.
4. Edmodo – An online education microblogging site we use to expand the teaching and learning process into Cyberspace
2) Please tell us about any major innovations you are planning to introduce within the next year.
DISTRICT-WIDE
1. Virtualization – We will be expanding our current Storage Area Network and starting to virtualize our servers to ease management and reduce server costs.
2. Learning Management and Collaboration System – A Web-based system for teachers to move their classrooms online as well as manage Web 2.0 activities in a safe and secure environment for posting homework, handouts, e-mail, blogs, Wikis, digital lockers, hand-in/hand-out assignments, etc. (various systems will be researched this year for planned implementation next year)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
John F. Kennedy School School
1. Podcasting, iPods and Flip Video Camcorders – 5th graders will be creating podcasts and using Flip Videos as a way to demonstrate their knowledge in a presentation. TESL students will be using iPods in small groups for speaking and listening activities.
2. Edmodo - 4th and 5th grade classes will use Edmodo as a closed system micro-blogging tool.
3. Global Schoolnet Project – 2nd, 3rd and 5th graders will participate in the Global Schoolnet Project to share what life is like in other communities. 2nd graders will be able to create Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting the different communities based on information from students their own age. 3rd grades will ask students from the different countries to share information about their countries; school, clothing, food, traditions. 5th graders will participate in a tornado watch project (blogging, wikispaces) and students are joining an ongoing project created by a class in Illinois in which they will add their stories to a wiki.
4. Skype – Students in grades 3-5 will be Skyping with other schools, collaborating and sharing of parallel project.
Parkville School
1. iPods – Plan to use iPods in our TESL program with small groups of children.
Saddle Rock School
1. iPad or iPod Touch Pilot – In the next year, Saddle Rock will be looking to purchase a class set of iPads or iPod Touches to put the Web at our student’s fingertips for regular classroom instruction and learning.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
North Middle School
1. Flip Video Camcorders and Digital Story Project - Students will use Flip Video Cameras, digital cameras, and iPods w/microphones for their digital story project that they will edit using the iMovie software.
North High School
1. Secure Wireless Network - We are implementing a secure wireless network later this school year that will provide 15 “hot-spots” for wireless access to our network for district-owned equipment and to the Internet for teachers who wish to bring their own laptops into school and go online with them and for administrators to use handheld iPod Touch devices to check student schedules on the go.
2. Flip Video Camcorders and Digital Stories - We are looking to integrate digital texts and e-book readers in all disciplines.
South High School
1. Naviance Expansion - While not in the classroom, our expansion of student/parent use of Naviance to assist with the college research and application process and moves us toward electronic college applications.
2. Student Portal - Student use of the Campus portal allows student access to their current school information and encourages students to take responsibility for their own education while fostering autonomy and enhancing communication.
SEAL Academy
1. E-Book Readers - We are looking to integrate digital texts and e-book readers in all disciplines.
2. Real-Time Digital Access - We are looking at ways to provide RTDA (Real Time Digital Access) to students who are home and cannot make it to school. This access would allow the student to attend and interact with a class from home in real-time.
3. Robotics - We are looking to integrate Robotics into the Mathematics curriculum using the BOEKit.
South Middle School
1. Connected Classroom Expansion - We are hoping to expand our Connected Classroom Pilot Program to other interdisciplinary teams.
Village School
1. Cell Phones - We will be looking into leveraging the power of cell phones as a portable on hand tool for research.
1. Visitation – Yes
Our Board of Education recently revised policy on Electronic Communication Devices to enable high school students, with teacher permission, to occasionally use personal electronic communication devices as educational and organizational tools in the classroom. The policy prohibits the use of these devices during the school day by students in elementary and middle schools and restricts personal use by high school students to times when they are not in class.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
North Middle School
1. Cell Phones – Short-term, just this week, we have been able to use their cell phones to connect to our computers via Bluetooth technology in order to upload photos and video to use in school projects.
2. Cell Phones – Long-term, our current thinking is if such electronic devises are to be used we would need to supply them to students.
SEAL Academy
1. Cell Phones - We are beginning to use cell phones as a learning tool to access the web for information, and give feedback to the teacher and class through PollEveryWhere, an interactive Web site for conducting online surveys.
South Middle School
1. Cell Phones – Although middle school students cannot use cell phone in class as per our Board of Education policy, students of Mr. Douglas Moore use their cell phones (or home phones) to call in their homework assignments. They call to leave a message on "drop.io.com" in Spanish. Mr. Moore can evaluate each student on their pronunciation and fluency in Spanish simply by going to the drop.io website and clicking on the link to hear the recording.
North High School
1. Cell Phones - We are using cell phones in various classes with PollEveryWhere to gather student feedback in real-time and to search the Web for information.
2. Cell Phones – We are also using cell phones with software like DropIo to create student podcasts.
3. Cell Phones - Through our use of online learning management systems students are receiving email and texts on their phones from their teachers assignments, announcements and other class communications.
South High School
1. Cell Phones - We are still exploring this area.
Village School
1. Cell Phones – We currently use texting through Edmodo to communicate assignments and announcements to our students on their cell phones.
Newsday survey
7. Eastport-South Manor
Eastport South Manor CSD introduced 226 Smart Board 680i interactive whiteboard systems into the classrooms. These systems transformed lessons into a more visual and interactive learning experience for students and teachers.
Teachers are able to easily incorporate multi-media content into their lessons as well as provide interactive engaging lessons using Smart notebook software and tools. In addition, several classroom sets of advanced student response systems from eInstruction have been deployed to provide synergistic technologies to the Smart Boards. Teachers are able to utilize the response systems to conduct real-time formative assessments while students are engaged in answering a series of questions presented. Eastport South Manor CSD also introduced a classroom set of HP Netbooks on a mobile cart for each elementary school. The netbooks provide opportunities to conduct research in the classroom and reduces the need to schedule class time in a computer lab.
This year we are introducing a new innovative digital media solution which will bring a “YouTube” like experience into the district. The solution that will be implemented is Cisco Show and Share which will enhance collaboration in both instructional and administrative settings. ESM Students, Teachers and Administrators will have opportunities to develop video and audio content and post the information on a secure server. The majority of the content developed will be accessible through the district intranet and some content will be available to the general public through our website. We look forward to seeing this product develop and see the creative content evolve as the technology is introduced.
