TECHNOLOGY TIMES NEWSLETTER

You should have received a copy of The Technology Times in last week's Friday Folder.  Please see below for the first issue!  This gives us a summary of all of the things that we have been studying in class since school began, as well as updates on Lesson Plans, Words of the Week, and additional information you should know about technology.  ENJOY!

Word of the Week: HOME ROW KEYS

The past two weeks, we have been focusing on the HOME ROW KEYS.

CAN YOU REMEMBER?

• Can you name the home row keys?  
• What fingers touch which keys?
• What should you remember before typing?
• How should you sit and hold your hands?
• What are the two keys in the home row that your hands do not rest upon?

Don't forget to check out Miss Wilmes' webpage on SMOY's new website for some cool resources that focus on KEYBOARDING!

Lesson #16: What are the HOME ROW KEYS, continued?

Last week the students were introduced to what the home row keys on the keyboard are.  They specifically focused on the keys: asdfjkl;.  This week, they are going to continue praciting with the home row and add in the keys of “g&h”.  


TEST YOUR KNOWLEGE:
What two keys are in the HOME ROW but your fingers do not rest upon them?
What finger should touch the "g&h" keys?

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
Don't forget about the similarities we talked about in class between typing and playing an instrument.  Can you name the things that they have in common?  Where should you look when you are typing?  How should your hands rest?  Don't forget that just like playing an instrument, succeeding while typing takes practice!


ADDITIONAL ONLINE PRACTICE:
I will then have the students practice online via my technology webpage under “Resources/KEYBOARDING” for Lesson 1: Home Row keys.  This website allows them to practice the home row keys together, while telling them their accuracy and words per minute.

SPEED TESTS:
In order to have each child set their own goal, as well as for me to see where each students stands with typing, I will have the students take both Speed Test 1 & 2 on my technology webpage under “Resources/KEYBOARDING”.  Feel free to practice at home!


CLICK HERE FOR MORE ONLINE PRACTICE!

Lesson #15: What are the HOME ROW KEYS on the keyboard?

The students are beginning to learn how to type.  This week, I will introduce the home row keys on the keyboard, focusing specifically on the keys: asdf jkl;.  The students will also take a time test that will show them how fast they type, as well as their accuracy.   This will be their pre-test to help them set their own goal, as well as keep track of their progress. 


THINGS TO REMEMBER WHILE TYPING:

• sit with your back straight
• hands should always go on the "home row" keys
• look for the raised bar on the "j & k" keys in order to find the right spot
• both hands stay on the space bar
• don't rest arms on the desk
• pretend there is a bubble underneath the palms of your hands while typing
• RELAX

EXERCISE:
Can you figure out which fingers touch which letter?

LEFT HAND:
pinky: A
ring finger: S
middle: D
index: F


RIGHT HAND:
index: J
middle: K
ring: L
index: ;


EXTENSIONS:
Make sure you practice the home row keys!  Need some help?  Visit SMOY's website/Miss Wilmes' Technology Page.  Under Resources, there is a section entitled KEYBOARDING.  Feel free to play any online typing games or visit the first resource called "Home Row Keys Practice". Your students began this exercise for me in class this week.

SMOY HAS A NEW WEBSITE!

Don't forget to check out SMOY's new website!
www.smoyschool.com

Think you can navigate SMOY's website?  Try this SCAVENGER HUNT!
Can you find the following items?

• What are the hours of the school nurse?
• What is the first picture that shows up on the SMOY Parish website?
• What is the color of your teacher's shirt?
• How many teachers are there here at SMOY?
• Where did our Guidance Counselor graduate from college?
• What is the background of the teacher blog?
• What is one of Miss Cooper's favorite restaurants?
• BONUS QUESTION:  On what day did Miss Wilmes post about "avatar" as our Word of the Week?

Words of the Week: Webpage or Website?

Think you know the difference between a webpage and a website?

A website is a group of pages on the internet.  A website is made up of several webpages.  A webpage is a specific page online that is located within a website.

Still stuck?  For example, Target.com offers tons of information about all the cool products they sell.  If you are looking for a specific game for your Wii, you would go to the Electronics webpage.  Target.com is the website, whereas the Electronic section is one of it's webpages.

Think you're a pro?  See if you can come up with another example and let Miss Wilmes know!

Week 14: Webpage or Website?

We did several things in computer this week! 

SMOY HAS A NEW WEBSITE!  

This week in computer, the students have the opportunity to visit SMOY's new website.  We visited their class webpage, as well as navigated around the site.  Feel free to check out this website at home!  Don't forget to check their classroom webpages at least twice a week for important announcements from their teachers.

LESSON:

INTRODUCTION:

What is the difference between a website and a webpage?  Students will navigate around SMOY's new website and visit their class webpages.

THINK YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WEBPAGE & A WEBSITE?  Ask your student to explain this week's Words of the Week!

KEYBOARDING SKILLS:
Over the next month, we will begin working on Keyboarding Skills.  With only a limited amount of time to work on this in the lab, students will need to practice at home.  Please visit my webpage on the SMOY's new website for some KEYBOARDING resources!  These include games, lessons, and even speed tests.  We will be working on keyboarding skills until Christmas break, as well as maybe into January.  Please encourage your student to work on their typing skills as much as they can, as this skill will need to be perfected on their own time.

Check out Miss Wilmes' Keyboarding Resources Folder Online:  CLICK HERE

STAR READING TEST: 

Each student in Grades 1-8 took the STAR Reader test at the beginning of the school year to assess their reading skills.  This week, each student took the test again to see if they have approved.  Check with their English teacher to receive your child's individual reading level.  Each teacher will get their students' results after their students have finished their time in the lab this week. 

EXTENSION: 
DISCUSSION: is a blog a a webpage or a website?

PRACTICE ONLINE:  Check out SMOY’s website at home!  See if you can find all of your teacher’s pages.  Don’t forget to check out the blog at least once a week. 

Lesson 12: FREE WEEK!

Because of all of your student's hard work over the trimester, I have given the students an opportunity to use their computer time to explore the computers.  When given time to explore, students often learn things on their own, as they are putting into practice what they have learned in the classroom and their time away from class.  

EXTENSION:

All 3rd - 8th graders just turned in their Invitation Project to show what they have learned in Microsoft Word.  Have some free time over Thanksgiving?  See if you can create your own invitation from scratch.  See below for an example!  Don't forget that this particular invitation will be folded into fours to have a front, back, and an inside.

K-2: Thanksgiving Computer Projects

Kindergarten through Second Grade has been working on drawing what they are thankful for to prepare us for Thanksgiving season.  Don't forget to check out the PowerPoints each grade has created!  Turn up your sound and enjoy seeing what your children are thankful for this year.  ENJOY!

K - 2: THANKSGIVING PROJECTS

Download eBooks & Audiobooks for FREE!

Did you know that the Cincinnati Public Library offers downloadable music, eBooks, and even AudioBooks for free?  All you need is your library card number and pin.  With the Ohio eBook Project, you can even check out books and transfer them to your iPad or Nook!

Check it out here:  Cincinnati Public Library

Lesson 10 & 11: Creating a Template from Scratch

The students have been working on a study through Microsoft Office to learn how to complete basic functions in this program by concentrating on creating invitations.  They have discovered what a template was and how a template could be useful when working on documents created in Microsoft Word. This week, the students will continue to focus on making an invitation using Microsoft Word and finish creating their invitation from scratch.  They will then save this as a template in their classroom folders.

TASKS:  Students will use a template as a guide to create an invitation from scratch.  They will have be able to edit images, rotate images, insert text boxes, and format the page into four quadrants to create a foldable invitation of their choice.  This project will be a final culmination to showcase what they have learned over the past few weeks during their study of Microsoft Word.

MICROSOFT WORD WORKSHOP:

Think you know a lot about Microsoft Word?  Below are the requirements for the invitation your students will turn in as we finish our study on Microsoft Word:

• insert a Wordle they created  
• TASKS: Be able to use the Print Screen button to take a picture of what is on their screen and put into Microsoft Word
• insert an image using PicSearch 
• TASKS:  Import this picture into Microsoft Word / Copy and Paste
• TASK: Be able to search safety for a picture on the internet
• Rotate an image
• Insert WORD ART
• Insert and Edit/Move Clip Art
• TASKS:  Be able to use the Text Wrapping key to make an image “in front of text”
• Change the font and size of the font
• Be able to PRINT the document to the Smoy Lab Printer
• Save and Open a project on the SMOY network

Word of the Week: Template

A template is something that is created to guide you.  It can work as a springboard to give you ideas, as well as provide a quick way for you to create a specific project.

Ever tried to trace something instead of drawing it by freehand?  You have used a template!  Translate this to the Microsoft Word world, and a template is something that was created by someone to make your life easier.  It allows you to use a project that was already created without having to start that project from scratch.

Don't forget to check out Microsoft Office's Online Database for FREE templates!

Lesson #9: What is a template?

The students have just finished learning how to Open and Save projects in Microsoft Word, as well as edit pictures.  We will continue our study in Microsoft Word by focusing on the use of a template.

DISCUSSION:
How can using a template make your life easier?

Can a template save your time and money?

This week, your student will use all that they have learned in Microsoft Word to work on a Halloween invitation.  They will add to a template to make an existing template their own. 

THINK YOU'RE AN EXPERT IN MICROSOFT WORD?

THINGS YOUR STUDENT NEEDS TO REMEMBER:

-how to open a document from the SMOY network

-the difference between Save and Save As

-how to insert a picture from clip art

-how to edit a picture 

Check out Microsoft's Online Database of thousands of templates for free!

CLICK HERE 

NETSMARTZ: Great Online Resource

NETSMARTZ is a great online tool for parents, as it helps guide parents on how to instruct their children to be safe online.  It is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  There are great games for your children to explore that can help them safely surf online, as well as a wealth of information specifically designed for each age level.


This online site has tons of information for:

• Parents
• Educators
• Tweens
• Teens
• Kids

There are even TIP SHEETS to post around the house to remind your children to be safe while they are online.  Since not everyone grew up with the same technologies that now interest your 21st Century child, this website is a great tool to explore with your children.

Don't forget to check out the video on BLOG SAFETY!

Lesson #8: What is Microsoft Word?

The students have just finished a unit on internet safety and cyberbullying, as well as learned what a blog is.  They will continue to explore the Wordle software on the internet to create a banner they could safely post on a blog.  The students will also extend their knowledge by learning how to save, open, edit, and print an image in Microsoft Word.    


MICROSOFT WORD is a great resource to edit photos, add fun Word Art, type projects, and even add creative flair to presentations.  We will be spending the next few weeks exploring Microsoft Word and learning some basic functions that all students should know when operating in Microsoft Word.


EXTENSIONS:  
GRADES 3-8:  Exercise their creativity to explore a new way to use Wordle!  Need some ideas?  Think:  Student council events, write themes of their novel they are studying, create flashy binder covers -- Check out this cool presentation for 45 Interesting Ways to Use Worlde!

Kindergarten - GRADE 2:  Use WORDLE to write their spelling words.  This is a great idea, for students will be able to find the letters on their keyboards to type, as well as spell each of their words correctly.  What a wonderful and fun way to practice spelling words each week!

Word of the Week: BLOGS

Guess what?  If you are currently reading this, you know what a BLOG is!  You are visiting a blog right now!  Some people use blogs to create an online journal, while others use a blog to create an online place to  put information.  It is a great way to share exciting news, keep people up-to-date, and organize one's thoughts or actions.

The SMOY TECHNOLOGY blog was designed as an online database of all things technology here at SMOY.  It helps keep parents in the loop about what we are learning in the lab each week during class.  Please continue to check out the blog as often as possible, as Miss Wilmes posts all the cool things we are learning about and even cooler things you can do at home to extend your tech skills!

Ever thought about creating your own blog?  Try a free version here at BLOGGER.  All you need is a Gmail Email Address.

**REMEMBER, if you are a student, please consult your parents before creating an online blog and practice all that we have learned about being safe online.  Don't post any of your personal information and BE SAFE!

WANT A FEW EXAMPLES OF OTHER BLOGS?:
Hamburger A Day Blog:  This guy blogs every day about all the wonderful hamburgers across the US!
Daily Craft Ideas:  Interested in exercising your creativity?  Follow this blog to get some great craft ideas!

Lesson #7: What is a blog?

The students have just finished a unit on internet safety and cyberbullying.  They have been exposed to what information is okay to post online.  They have seen the technology blog, but this week they will learn more in-depthly what a blog is and how they can use a blog in their own lives. 

Think you know what a BLOG is?

Explore Brain Pop to discover what a blog is and how it can be useful in your life!

K-2: Brain Pop Jr – BLOGS

3-8:  Brain Pop:  BLOGS

          

ACTIVITY:  A blog may describe something – either about a person or a subject.   We will use Wordle to create out own word picture to describe a topic that could be used on a blog.  Students will need to use all the information that they have learned about internet safety to discern what information is okay to give out online.

Students will then review the PRINT SCREEN function to put this word art into Word and save to their classroom folder.  Students will then distinguish which printer to print from and print to the SMOYLAB printer.

EXPLORE WORDLE:  CLICK HERE!

Lesson #6: REVIEW

Help your students remember all that they have learned in computer class with this week's review!


CAN YOU DESCRIBE EACH OF THESE WORDS?

WORDS OF THE WEEK:
Technology

Hardware

Software

QR CODE

Cyberbullying

Avatar

By this point in the trimester, your child should be able to do the following:
-Students should be able to accurately identify what information is okay to post online and describe what information should not be posted online. 

-Students should be able to identify what cyberbullying is and how to accurately report those who are cyberbullying.

-Students should be able to identify the difference between a QR CODE and a bar code and describe how this piece of technology can be used in their lives.

-Students should be able to describe what an avatar is, as well as how an avatar can help keep them safe online. 

Word of the Week: Avatar

An AVATAR is a graphical representation of an image.  It's connection to internet safety and cybebullying online is critical, for the use of an avatar can help keep your identify safe online.

EXTENSION: Want to know more about an AVATAR?  Can you identify areas in your life that you already use an avatar?  Think about your gaming experiences with technology.

Don't forget to experience building your own avatar using the NY Zoo website or through Lego!

Lesson 5: Avatars & Online Safety

WEEK 5:

BIG IDEA:  How can an avatar help you be safe online?

The past two weeks we have discussed internet safety and cyberbullying.  This week’s lesson provides an opportunity for kids to put into practice what they have learned by discovering a way to be safe online by creating an avatar to help protect their identities online.

Lesson/Discussion:              
              -What is an avatar?  A graphical representation of a user online

              -What is the connection between an avatar and internet safety?

              -How can an Avatar help protect your identity online?

VIDEO:  Making of the movie “Avatar”

Students can identify the human side of the actor while seeing the digital image of a created avatar in the making of this film.

VIDEO:  Disney’s Hall of Presidents
Students will see an attraction of avatars that look and talk like our presidents

EXTENSION: Want to build your own avatars?  Check it out online!

NY ZOO Avatars:  www.buildyourwildself.com

LEGO Avatars:  www.reasonablyclever.com [Click on "Mini-Mixer" then "Classic Kid-Safe")

DID YOU KNOW?:

Use the "PRINT SCREEN KEY" to take a picture of the Avatar you have made online.  Then open this image in Microsoft Word by pasting it into a document.  Feel free to edit this image (crop. add a border, etc.) then save on your computer!  Use this picture instead of a real picture when you are surfing online!

**If you are on a Mac, Command + Shift + 3 takes a screenshot of whatever is on your screen.  It automatically moves this image to your desktop.

Word of the Week 4: Cyberbullying

What is cyberbullying?
CYBERBULLYING is bullying through the use of technology.

RESOURCES:
NetSmartz is a great website for parents to peruse to get tons of information on cyberbullying.  It is from the program for the National Center for the Missing and Exploited Children.  They have videos that are age-appropriate, as well as handouts, discussion questions, and information related to cyberbullying for kids of all ages.

Check out NetSmartz here.

Lesson 4: Cyberbullying

This week’s technology class will explore the topic of cyberbullying and how bullying is prevalent with technology.  Students will analyze what is appropriate to post online and what is not.  Students will also view examples of cyberbullying and examine what they should do if faced with a cyberbullying situation.

ACTIVITIES:
K – 2:  Role-Models / Role-Play Kindergarten through second grade will decide who their role models are in their lives and how picturing that role model while they are on the computer will help them not cyberbully.  They will then illustrate their role models and write descriptive words to describe why they are role models and how this role model can help them not to cyberbully online.

3 – 6:  Comic Strips
Third through Sixth Grade will be presented with a bullying situation.  Students then must come up with a similar cyberbullying situation and what that situation would look like if it were cyberbullying.  Then students must illustrate the cyberbullying example, as well as correct the situation by providing a positive example to combat cyberbullying.

7 – 8:  Cyberbullying Posters

Students in 7^th and 8^th grades are encouraged to be leaders to the young kids of SMOY.  They will demonstrate their knowledge of Microsoft Word by showing me what they know how to do in Word to create posters to combat cyberbullying.  These posters will then be hung up around the school.  This activity has two purpose:  Allow the students to show me what they already know in Microsoft Word and present an opportunity to showcase what they know and have learned about cyberbullying to be leaders in getting rid of bullying in the world around them.

DID YOU KNOW?:

Your computer has a built in camera!  

• On a PC, you can hit the PRINT SCREEN button.
• On a MAC, press command + shift + 3

In order to effectively document bullying, students will learn the use of the “print Screen key”.  This is especially useful in reporting cyberbullying without the option to print or save.  This week, your students experimented with this option by taking a screen shot and pasting the image into Microsoft Word.  

Word of the Week 3: QR CODE

Ever seen one of these?  Scan this QR CODE with your Smart Phone to see where this QR will take you.  Remember, your phone needs to have an internet connection.

Once you start looking around for these cool codes, you will find that they are everywhere!  Advertisers are using QR CODES to expose the public to more information about their products.  Curious to see where you might find these QR CODES?  Check out this video!
QR CODE VIDEO

Would you like to make your own free QR CODE?  Click here!  All you need is a web address from online to link to this QR CODE.  For example, are you always visiting ESPN.com?  Go to the free QR CODE Generator and type in www. espn.com.  Once your QR CODE is generated, scan it with your smart phone.  You now have an instant link to ESPN!

BONUS:  Where does the QR CODE outside of Miss Wilmes' classroom take you?

EXTENSION:

Why do you think there might be a QR CODE on a house for sale sign? Why would someone put a QR CODE on a pancake?  a business card?  BE CREATIVE:  If you could create a QR CODE for anything you would like, what would your QR CODE lead you to?

Lesson #3: Internet Safety

This week’s technology class will explore how students should be practice online safety while on the computers inside and outside of the classroom walls. They will discover practices and policies regarding how to avoid sharing personal information over the internet.  Students will also decide what information is okay to share and what information should not be shared.

INTERNET SAFETY

Check it out online:

K-3:  BRAIN POP JR / Online Safety

4-8:  BRAIN POP / Internet Safety

In class, we discussed the information students should not post online, as well as what information is safe to put online.  We also discussed the difference between a stranger on the computer and a friend they have in their lives.  

Personal Information should not be share online, such as:

• First and Last Name
• Name of their School
• Photos/Videos of themselves
• Age
• Gender
• Location

K-6:  We created safe usernames in class that would not give away any personal information.  

Try this out with your kids!  Need some examples?  

DO: iluvschool, pizzarocks, icecreamismyfav 

DON'TS:  SMOYbball44, lovelandcomets1994

**See if you can figure out what the above usernames are okay or not okay to post online.

7-8:  Put your name into Google to see what information you can easily find about you on online.  

Check online to see what anyone can see when you search by your first and last name.  After searching, put your hometown along with your name to see what information shows up on the web.  Remember, what you are seeing, everyone with an internet connection is seeing.  

DISNEY INTERNET SAFETY WEBQUEST

Your student has completed a webquest online to test all that they know about be safe on the internet.  Have some free time?  Let them review at home.

Disney's Surf Swell Island

Word of the Week 2: Hardware & Software

This week's words are the week are HARDWARE and SOFTWARE.

HARDWARE:  Parts of the computer that you can touch
Examples: monitor, keyboard, mouse, headphones

SOFTWARE:  provides instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it
Examples:  Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google, Email Programs, Games

TEST YOUR SKILLS:  Can you test your computer skills by labeling the parts of the computer below?  Check your skills with the answers below.

Week 2: Technology Enhances Reading

BIG IDEA:  How can technology enhance one's reading skills?

SNAPSHOT:  This week's technology class will be an extension of the reading skills taught in the classroom to introduce SMOY's reading program, Accelerated Reader.  All students will take a pre-test to determine one's reading level.  Students will also learn the difference between SOFTWARE and HARDWARE and be able to identify and describe the parts of the computer.

WHAT'S THE POINT?
Being able to identify the parts of the computer will help increase one's knowledge of the computer in order to help build effective computer skills.  Hardware and Software are two different components, but they work with one another to make one's computer work properly.  It is important for all students to learn the correct computer vocabulary as we begin the school year.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Check out BRAIN POP: The components of a computer

EXTENSIONS:

*Encourage your students to explore the software on your home computer with your parental permission. Once students finished exploring the Accelerated Software program on our lab computers, we explored Google Earth this week.  Want to download Google Earth for free to use on your home computer?  Click here.

*See if your child can identify the parts of your home computer and determine if each part is hardware or software.

Word of the Week 1: Technology

This week's word of the week is TECHNOLOGY.

Technology is:
-something that makes your life easier
-helps us solve problems
-extends our abilities to do things

Think of life around you: what are examples of technology?  What technology do you use everyday?

• at HOME: microwave, refrigerator, computer, cell phone, alarm clock, electric toothbrush
• at SCHOOL:  SmartBoards, laptops, printers, scanners
• DON'T FORGET:  Technology doesn't have to be electronic!  Papers, pens, pencils, binders, and notebooks are examples of technology too!!
• on the FOOTBALL FIELD:  shoelaces, helmets, scoreboards

The list of technologies in your life is endless!  

TRY IT AT HOME:  Try to see how much technology you use in your life.  Do you think you could life without it?  Do you depend on technology too much in your life?  What technologies do you use that your grandparents did not use when they were your age?

Lesson 1: What is Technology?

WEEK 1:

BIG IDEA:  What is Technology?   Discover what technology is available in students’ lives and in their classrooms and how technology can help them in their daily world.

SNAPSHOT:  This week students discovered what technology is and why it is important in their lives inside the classroom and outside of the classroom walls.  We also learned the history of computers and how technology changes over time.  We were able to identify specific technologies around while comparing and contrasting technology uses to the past, present, and future.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?:
Check out:  BRAIN POP:  History of Computers

DISCUSS:  Discuss how technology is ever changing / how computers looked completely different / how technology is now much smaller and mass produced compared to what it was in their grandparents’ lifetimes

WHAT'S THE POINT?:
The point of having a technology class at school is to provide an extension of learning from what you study in the classroom to connect to student lives in the “real world” – every day you use technology! 

EXTENSIONS:

• Think of a piece of technology that you use at home.  Now picture that technology 100 years from now.  What would it look like?  Draw a picture and explain how this would work.
• How can people take advantage of technology to, in turn, hurt their lifestyles?  Think back to the Wall-E clip viewed in class. 

8th graders:  Think of good classroom rules / presentation of classroom rules in the form of using technology next week!  START BRAINSTORMING and being CREATIVE!  Eighth grades need to strive to be an example.  We will work on a digital story of the classroom technology rules to present to the younger grades.

Practice for the High School Placement Test (HSPT)

In eighth grade, Mrs. Budde is working with her students to practice for the High School Placement Test online via InfOhio.  This website is a great resource for students.

Want to try it at home?  Follow these steps:

1. Go to www.infohio.org
2. Enter your username : USERNAME: learn
3. Enter your password : PASSWORD:  infohio
4. Click on "Resources for 6-8"
5. Click on "Learning Express Library"
6. Click on "Learning Express Library" again
7. Choose "Middle School" on the left and click it.
8. Click "High School Entrance Exam Preparation"
9. Under "High School Entrance Exam Preparation" click on HSPT Preparation.
10. Click on "Catholic High School Placement Exam COOP/HSPT4th Edition
11. Click on "Add to Center" at right

Remembering 9-11

Some of the sixth graders have been working on a video to showcase what they will be doing to remember September 11th.

Check it out:  Koetter 9-11 Video

2011-2012 Technology Schedule

Curious to see when your student is coming to Computer Class?  Here is the Computer Lab schedule:

Double click to enlarge and print

LAB: 21st Century Make-Over

The lab has had a make-over!!  Bright colors now welcome students into a learner-centered environment.  All computer supplies and resources are organized and easy to find.  No need to try to maneuver around boxes or cords!  The lab is now set up to model a teacher-driven classroom.  Welcome to our newly designed computer lab!

Welcome!

Hello!  My name is Miss Wilmes, and I am your child's new Technology teacher here at SMOY.  I am very excited to embark on a new school year with your students.  We have an exciting year ahead!

PERFECT FIT:  EDUCATION + TECHNOLOGY
This job is a perfect fit for me, for it combines two my favorite passions:  education and technology!  I love working with children, as teaching is my God-given gift.  I have my bachelors in Middle Childhood Education from Northern Kentucky University in both Mathematics and Language Arts.  I also hold my master's degree from Miami University in Curriculum and Teacher Leadership with an emphasis in Educational Technology.  I believe that to teach is to touch a life forever, and I cannot think of anything I would rather do than impact our future generation by educating our youth.  I look forward to working with you and your children!

TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN SOCIETY:
Technology has infused our world!  Students and families are part of a technology-driven society in which technology education exists inside and outside of SMOY's classroom walls!  One of my goals as a technology educator is to integrate a knowledge of technology into students lives.  I want to take what is happening in the world around them and the resources they use daily to make each student a 21st Century learner.  Learning technology does not happen in a vacuum; a true educator must see that technology is an extension of a students' normal routine in a society permeated with technology.

COOL ENOUGH TO HAVE A BLOG:

I have created this blog in order to create a open line of communication to keep students and parents up-to-date on all things technology happening here at St. Margaret of York.  Please free free to check out this blog a few times a week, as I will be updating this weekly with information of what your students are learning in the classroom, extensions to lessons, technology advice, and even resources!  

I look forward to working with you and your family!  Please feel free to stop by the lab and introduce yourselves!


Miss Cindy Wilmes