Shellie Brunsman
This activity researches the technological resources I have available. Detailed below are hardware, software and peripherals in 3 main areas: District level, school level and personal level.
District Level
Springfield is fortunate to have an excellent technology department. A major part of it is located at Lanphier High School. Here the Computer Service department makes available computer repair, maintenance, supplies and technological support. Supplies such as diskettes, ink cartridges, cables, etc... can be purchased for school and/or home use. Repairs, memory upgrades and site licensed programs are all handled by trained technicians. These are available to district personnel for home systems without a labor charge. Current price lists for supplies and memory upgrades can be found at:
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/resources/techservices/index.html
Computer Support personnel also work out of this office. Four times a year in-service training's are held in each elementary school. An agenda is e-mailed outlining any new software or concern areas that the school feels technical support is needed. In-service programs are one day in length with each teacher allowed 1 hour to work with the technician. Computer Services' Tech-Connection Newsletter keeps the staff informed of current district classes, hardware/software packages and any other pertinent information.
The District's Instructional Resource Center houses the lending software library. A detailed list is included on the district's CD-ROM. This lists programs available for checkout. The list is very extensive and organized for easy use by classroom teachers. Included at the IRC is the video department. Here teachers can have their videos placed onto CD-ROM's or incorporated into slide shows . A teacher could also have the technician come and film a project. The Instructional Resource Database in also available for viewing and placing orders.
Lincoln School contains a computer lab set up specifically for the district's teacher's use. The lab includes 15 Mac's, a digital camera, scanner, flex cam, Easy Photo reader, and laser printers. These tools are set up with printed guidelines to assist the teacher at his/her own schedule.
The district provides each building with a copy of it's licensed programs. These programs are on a CD-ROM for easy installment. Included in the software are:
Claris 4.0 - word processing, database
Claris for Kids - student friendly word processing
Eudora - free district e-mail program
Mecc Programs -
Amazon Trail (grades 5-12)
BodyScope (grades 3-8)
DynoPark Tycoon (grades 3-12)
Easy Color Paint (grades K-12)
Geometric Golfer (grades 7-12)
Number Munchers (grades 3-12)
Odell Down Under (grades 3-12)
Oregon Trail (grades 5-12)
Secret Island of Dr. Quandry (grades 3-12)
Storybook Weaver (grades K-6)
Tesselmania! (grades 3-12)
USA GeoGraph II (grades 5-12)
Word Munchers (grades 1-5)
World GeoGraph II (grades 5-12)
Writing Along the Oregon Trail (grades 5-8)
Netscape 4.0, 2.0, 3.0 - Internet tools
The district also has site licensing for other programs that cost (at a reduced rate) and can be installed by a district technician. These are:
Claris Home Page 3.0 - web page tool
FileMaker Pro 3 - database system
Microsoft Word - word processing program
Kid Pix 2 - student program (art, slide shows)
At Ease - security system
School Level - Pleasant Hill Elementary
The district provides a technology budget to each school. The amount depends on the total enrollment. For the 1997-1998 year the budget for Pleasant Hill School was $2,100.
Pleasant Hill Technology Plan 1997-1998
To improve the technology at Pleasant Hill in order to keep up with current trends and practices that affect our students. With this technology we will foster creativity, learning and excitement in the changing technology of our world.
Goals:
1. To have building wired for internet and e-mail by the end of 1997-1998 school year.
2. To have mounted TV/VCR's in all classrooms and library.
3. To have all school personnel familiar with L/TV , Quick Cam, scanner and internet.
4. To have library computer program functional.
5. To have at least one Macintosh computer in each classroom and in the special and resource rooms.
6. To have a telephone in each classroom.
7. To add more and varied projects to the school web page.
Currently in process:
* TV/VCR's installed in classrooms.
* Teachers trained in use of QuickCam,
scanner, district programs, e-mail, Netscape, etc....
* PTO taking an active part in supporting and
purchasing new technology for the school.
Items to acquire to further technology at Pleasant Hill:
Move L-TV boxes (at least 2 downstairs & 1 upstairs)
Video cards in computers
Mac's for every teacher
TV/VCR for library
Telephones in classrooms
Laser printer
Computer carts
Software - At Ease, Kid Pix
Cartridges for Style Writers
CD/Cassette/Radio Boom Boxes for classrooms
E-mate personnel computers for students, parents,
and staff to check-out.
Fax Machine for office
Stools to replace chairs in computer lab
Pleasant Hill School has a GS lab. This lab has 15 computers and 3 printers all networked together. Mecc programs and Writing and Publishing Center are the main programs in the network. Future plans are to dismantle the lab and place 2 GS computers in each classroom. This would create a small skill and drill/publishing center in each class. The building has 20 Macintosh computers and 16 printers. Models range from LC's to 5500's. Each classroom teacher has a Mac in her room. Building peripherals include a color scanner (new), black and white scanner, QuickCam(black and white), and an L-TV box. Each classroom is equipped with a color TV and VCR. The district is currently wiring the building for a fiber optic network. Cable TV and phone lines will be installed in every room. A separate account pays for any extra cartridges, memory upgrades, software, etc...the school needs. This fund is generated through the selling of candy at lunch time. ( I oversee this account.)
Pleasant Hill's software library includes:
Living Books: Just Me and My Dad, Just Me and My Mom,
Just Grandma and Me, Dr. Seuss - Green
Eggs and Ham & A B C's - trade books on
computer
Math Workshop - math skills are worked on through
drill, critical thinking and manipulation
Storybook Weaver Deluxe - student created books
Math Blaster - math facts and critical thinking
Bailey's Book House - Kindergarten reading skills
Millie's Math House - Kindergarten math skills
Writing Center - student word processing, templates
Kid Desk - computer security system
Easy Book - student created small books
Discis Books - 6 titles - books on computer
Math Rock - fun approach to math skills
Grammar Rock - fun approach to reading skills
Grolier's Encyclopedia - Mac pack - 1996 version
Hyperstudio - basic edition - 1995
Zane Publishing pack - dictionary, thesaurus,
science, space, music (12 CD-ROM's)
District Mecc programs:
Amazon Trail (grades 5-12)
BodyScope (grades 3-8)
DynoPark Tycoon (grades 3-12)
Easy Color Paint (grades K-12)
Geometric Golfer (grades 7-12)
Number Munchers (grades 3-12)
Odell Down Under (grades 3-12)
Oregon Trail (grades 5-12)
Secret Island of Dr. Quandry (grades 3-12)
Storybook Weaver (grades K-6)
Tesselmania! (grades 3-12)
USA GeoGraph II (grades 5-12)
Word Munchers (grades 1-5)
World GeoGraph II (grades 5-12)
Writing Along the Oregon Trail (grades 5-8)
Pleasant Hill technology plan, software log, and hardware registry compiled by Shellie Brunsman.
Personal Level
Resources available to me for personal use include a Performa, printer, and zip drive. Besides using the district and school programs, I have some that I use with my students as well as at home. My personal collection of CD-ROM titles includes:
Infopedia - multimedia encyclopedia
Sim Town - create a working town, critical thinking
Spell It 3 - spelling program
Morphabet Soup - K-2 letter program
Oregon Trail II - social studies, history, interactive
Print Artist 4.0 - banners, cards, signs, posters
Disney's Magic Artist - art program
Major League Math - math with a baseball theme
Sim City Classic - creating a city (4-5 graders)
3-D Dinosaur Adventure - explore world of dinos
Sim Farm - create a farm (4-5 graders)
Flying Colors - creative art program
Compton's Ocean Explorers - explore ocean life
Comptons's Zoo Explorers - explore zoo life
Dangerous Creatures - explore endangered wildlife
The Lion King - story on computer, interactive
Living Books - Arthur's Birthday, Arthur's Teacher
Trouble, Dr. Seuss's ABC's and Green Eggs and Ham
Print Shop Deluxe - cards, signs, banners
Kid Pix Studio - slide shows, drawing
Overall, the quality, type and amount of technical resources available are excellent. Resources are easy to access and incorporate. The added plus of trained technical support makes using the computer and it's peripherals much less intimidating. These vast resources will enhance any language arts program.