Rationale
The 1:1 Laptop Initiative presents an ideal opportunity to equip all CA High School students with a common set of technology skills. Teachers can then select a particular software program or web application that best suits their objectives in the knowledge that students have had at least some practice in its use.
Concept
One or one and half day Tech Fest held on the first days of the new academic year. The Tech Fest could take the form of a conference with keynote addresses attended by all students or particular grade levels and additional signup workshop sessions. Teachers and parents could also attend. All classes would still meet on a shortened schedule on Friday giving teachers the opportunity to discuss course outlines and classroom expectations. There could also be time to address Grade 9 transition issues.
Benefits
The Tech Fest will provide an opportunity to test the network and solve with any technical problems encountered by students. Dealing with these issues at the very beginning of the school year should lessen disruptions once lessons start.
The Tech Fest will ensure that all students will have basic working knowledge of the most important software and web applications available to teachers at CA. Providing this training at the very beginning of the school year will mean that teachers will not have to sacrifice class time to impart these skills.
Tech Fest Suggested Schedule
Whole School Presentations by Headmaster, Principal and Technology Director
1. The Rationale behind Technology @ CA
2. Acceptable Use Policy @ CA
3. Laptop care, file management and the importance of backing up
4. Final Site and PowerSchool
5. Gmail
Repeated Sessions by a Team of Presenters: Compulsory Sessions
1. Google Docs
2. Moodle
3. Blogs
4. Library Databases and Research Tools
5. Wikis
6. RSS Feeds/Netvibes
7. VoiceThread
Repeated Specialist Sessions by Technology Department and Teachers: Optional Sessions
1. Video Making
2. Photoshop
3. Advanced Word Processing
4. Spreadsheets
5. Advanced Blogging
6. Podcasts
7. Subject Software
8. Challenge Based Learning
9. Helping your child with Technology. (Parents)
Activity:
1. Click on the comment tab to write down your thoughts and suggestions at this stage.
2. Whole group discussion on the pros and cons of the Tech Fest
3. Click on the link Suggested List of Software and Web Applications
4. After reading the list and visiting the example, discuss how various Web 2.0 tools would be most suitable for your subject area.
5. To conclude:
individually complete the poll you can find on the blog sidebar
and as a department, complete this survey.
Still not sure – I need to explore it a little more. Possibly blogs could suit KB.
The tech fest is necessary. We will have one to one, so let's use the technology effectively. I would like to see follow-up, specifically, tech support and even classroom support, especially early in the program.
Kurt,
Absolutely. The ninth-graders can work together, but hardly as consistently as the 11th. It is a learned behavior and requires training.
Peter
I like it a fair bit but I hope that we don't byte off more than we can chew. I feel technologically infused.
I like the idea, and I think it would be worth taking most of the first 2 days to go over details such as troubleshooting, access, networking, etc. Also, given the possibly wide range of software students will be bringing to the mix a little extra time doesn’t seem a big loss.
As an extension of the list of possible software items, has any consideration been given to using Google Wave with classes?
Looking forward to 1:1 next year – BRING IT ON!!
This looks like a good idea. I need this myself to “ease” into the hi-tech life.
I like it a fair bit just so long as we don’t byte off more than we can chew. In general i feel technologically infused.
testing testing
Did we not decide that we wanted to start the school year with a full day of full classes.
I think that the Tech Fest is a great idea but looking at the proposed schedule I am a bit concerned that many of our students may be more tech savvy than we give them credit for. For instance, I would imagine that a large number of our students already feel very confident with Finalsite, Powerschool, and Gmail. Might we be able to differentiate between the students who need basic technology instruction and those who are ready for more advanced topics to avoid losing momentum right from the start?
Peter, If we can make sure that grade 9 get special attention, I would appreciate it. I have been impressed with how helpful grade 11 students are with each other–but I have been worried that grade 9 students are struggling with some of the basic electronic tools that we use. In particular, simple word-processing tools like a ruler are beyond many students–so the spend their time wasting time with tabs and spaces.
A great way to officially kick-off our laptop program! I like that there are required and optional sessions – a nice balance of topics.
I think it seems like a pretty good idea. The opportunity for the kids to learn how to use spreadsheets and also using graphing software (geogebra?) would be beneficial.
I can’t wait-let’s have prize giveaways-like solar powered chargers, gela-skins, or anything to let the students “bling” their computers.
John! That's the way! Having kids be excited about the program is best! Kurt
That’s the plan! We’re inviting vendors and giving conference bags with goodies, if it all works out.
I think the idea of the tech fest is a good one. However, if there are major problems with the system could we deal with them in a day?
Hey that Comments link was hard to find!
You're right!
Would students be encouraged to get external HDs or flash drives to back up their work?
@Monica, I think we need to decide whether we are going to have the documents hosted on our machines–or in the cloud. Also, we plan to have electronic portfolios–where the major projects could be stored.
It seems like a pretty good idea to me. I would like to take the opportunity to have the kids taught how to use excel and geogebra for a start.
I second the excel idea – my grade 9 students really need this.
Just something to add – I’ve been negotiating with a tech specialist (from the real world!!) who may be able to come and speak as a keynote as well as offer a few workshops or discussions. This is still in the negotiation stage, but I love the idea of a real conference style day! This tech specialist has done some very interesting things: R&D, securities, wireless solutions, and he’s the reason the Blackberry is a phone and not just a PDA. More soon, when I know for sure if he can work us into his schedule.
Exciting!!
all this computer stuff is beyond me