A case study in the use of Technology to Enhance, Enrich & Extend the Curriculum

1. Escuela Preescolar, Elemental y SuperiorDASKALOS A case study in the use of Technology to Enhance, Enrich & Extend the Curriculum

2. The Nature of the Project Curriculum: • Redesigns course curricular content allowing delivery via an academic platform. • Enriches the curricular content with resources from the internet (web supported or web ephemeral) • Provides universal access on real time to curricular content (synchronous) or in a delay form (asynchronous) • Provides rational course content indexes accessible via course web sites.

3. Student – Teacher interaction • Teachers reach students all the time and connect with their work. Students can ask questions and send work synchronously or asynchronously. • Teachers communicate via bulletin boards in the platform or via email. • Teachers structure discussion groups, chat rooms, forums to discuss class material.

4. Students • Develop computer related skills • Learn to read web sites, search and access directories, libraries, information links; the use of graphic organizers to guide their searches • Have access to course content all the time

5. Complete homework and do research • Write compositions and receive immediate feedback • Develop productive collaborative work • Take virtual field trips

6. Teachers • Develop computer related skills • Learn to electronically organize curriculum and design electronic pages • Acquire or improve skills for researching the internet and for identifying sites that can enrich courses • Administer courses easily • Communicate easily with parents

7. Parents • Receive communications from teachers on a daily basis. • Follow student work as they desire

8. Desired Outcomes The project is aimed to accomplish the following desired outcomes: • Students’ and teachers’ computer skills will be reinforced through the use of appropriate software and age appropriate multimedia. • Teachers will use the internet as a resource to web support their courses providing course specific links and sites from the web.

9. Teachers will use Moodle to organize course content that could be accessed from the classroom, home or anywhere via the internet. • Teachers will set up chat rooms, bulleting boards, and whiteboards in each of course. • Teachers will communicate with students and families both synchronously and asynchronously.

10. Teachers will build learning communities as groups of students communicate with each other via the internet sharing information, learning about a topic, working on a project of mutual interest thus building trust and respect for each others’ differences and consequently achieving together common-course related objectives.

11. Students will learn to free search the web, elaborate e-sheets, to comprehend sites and to do basic research. • Students will be able to communicate via email, chat rooms and group discussions, thereby enhancing the learning process and fostering cooperative learning in the courses. • Teachers will be able to post course work in the net to be accessed from the classroom or from home.

12. Communication between teachers and parents will be increased and enhanced through email, electronic bulletin boards and course web pages. • Ongoing teacher and staff training will be formalized and made available in documentary form.

13. 2011-12 Summative Activities, Evaluation & Dissemination A NineYearProgram 2010-11 Conversion from Blackboard to Moodle 12 grade Courses Designed 2009-10 10, 11 grades Course Designed 2008-2009 1, 2, 3 grades Courses Designed 2007-08 4, 5, 6 grades Courses Designed 2006-07 7, 8 grades Courses Designed 2005-06 9 grade Courses Designed 2004-05 Planning & Infrastructure Development 2003-04

14. Why use computers in the classroom • There is a new customer: one who is technological literate • There is sufficient research on Middle School and discreet in the Elementary School pointing towards the academic advantages of using computers in the classroom

15. In USA, some districts have recognized these advantages and are using laptops. • Maine: 34,000 students in 7th, 8th and 9th grade • Michigan: 20,000 students mostly 6th graders • Massachusetts 2, 125 students from Middle school

16. The penetration of laptops is the following according to Education Week. In 2005, there were 19 students per instructional laptop, compared with 24 last year. There is, however, considerable variation in laptop intensity across states. It is not surprising that Maine is the leader in providing individual students with laptops, with only 2.6 students per laptop. This is the direct result of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.

18. Why use laptops extensively in schools?

19. Modern Education Philosophy & Practices Student centered with emphasis on individual needs Technology Project Project enhances the possibilities of individual attention. This Megaproject is in perfect line with modern education, philosophy and practices

20. Discovery approach in science & mathematics Permits all kinds of inputs from the vast internet ; provides for exploration, experimentation and simulations.

21. Whole language approach in the teaching of English a Second Language Provides access to books, short stories, novels, quotations, that can be used as reactives.

22. Education should be fun. The computer is probably one of the most important motivational tools for students. It provides a wealth of games, interactive exercises to enrich teaching practices.

23. Education should be holistic. Students “multiple intelligences” must be attended to. The project provides stimulation to all senses at the teacher’s will.

24. Academic disciplines should be presented in an integrated way. The internet allows for study cases, exercises, virtual trips that can make integration very real.

25. Cooperative learning is essential to develop will rounded individuals. The project facilitates group discussions, and group cooperation through chat rooms, forums, etc.

26. Curriculum must have an international perspective. The world is wide open with the project. • Education must use technology. • This is technology in use.

27. The educational process must bring together parents, teachers, students and administrator. Everybody is communicated through this project. Parents become real partners of the educational process.

28. Education should be relevant. The internet provides teachers with multiple ways of making each lesson relevant.

29. Resources • Personnel • One Academic Project Coordinator • Two Technical Coordinator Consultants

30. Hardware Laptops • Toshiba A60 2.8 GHZ • Dell Inspiron 700 1.2 Centrino • Dell Inspiron 1501 • Dell XPS M1210 • Dell XPS M1310 • Dell Inspiron Mini 10 • Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 • Acer Aspire One Z65 • Acer Aspire One D250

31. Servers

32. Software • Blackboard • Moodle

34. Costs as of December 2010 Personnel 200,000 Hardware 410,000 Platform 100,000 Training 90,000 Total $800,000

35. Important Steps in Adopting technology • Set Goals • Gather Support • Evaluate Needs • Train Teachers • Engage Parents • Engage Students • Check with accrediting agencies