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It’s a high-tech life
Melissa Ridge Elementary School third-graders Olivia Lucas, Jonathan Friesen, Blake Ferguson, Chris Medina and Alexis Lane pose with some of the technology they use for learning in Karen Rose’s class. This photo and others available through Photo Gallery at www.scntx.com. Photo: Stefanie White/McKinney Courier-Gazette
By Stefanie White, McKinney Courier-Gazette
MELISSA — iPods, digital cameras and the Internet have become regular parts of modern-day society. Karen Rose’s third-grade class at Melissa Ridge Elementary is no exception to the technological rule.
“It’s a digital world,” Rose said. “Technology is the means that you can reach every student.”
To demonstrate the importance of technology in a school setting, Rose’s class accepted a challenge from Interwrite Learning to enter a video contest showing how different types of technology could be used in the classroom. Interwrite Learning is a global provider of interactive learning solutions.
Parodying the songs “Tomorrow” and “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from “Annie,” Rose’s class showed how various kinds of technology could support and accelerate learning.
“I picked the songs and we brainstormed as a class the technology we had. The acting was totally them,” Rose said. “It was really a collaboration.”
The video, which was made Oct. 8 and posted Oct. 11, was named as one of the five finalists in the contest.
“There were 208 entries that didn’t make the finals,” Rose said.
Rose’s students use computers every day, although the room only has two computers.
“We do all the Microsoft programs, Power Point, Excel, Word,” Rose said. “We use a lot of the Internet programs.”
The students also use digital cameras, the scanner and have even made their own videos.
“Every third-grader made a commercial for the SPCA,” Rose said.
Jonathan Friesen wasn’t in the Interwrite Learning video but he played a very important part in its creation.
“I was the director,” Jonathan said. “I had to make them do the stuff right.”
Blake Ferguson, who was in the video, said he enjoyed honing his acting skills.
“It was fun and I liked the part where I was thinking about the cricket, it was on top of my head,” Blake said.
Contest winners will receive a complete technology makeover for the classroom, $1,000 cash prize and a schoolwide celebration.
Rose said having the technology makeover would help to get every student the access for technology.
“I’m just wanting them to have the daily access to the technology they can manipulate,” Rose said. “What we would really like is that it is interactive.”
While the students demonstrated the importance of technology, Rose said they also benefited in other areas from making the video.
“It was really amazing to see the self-confidence, they have no fear getting in front of the camera,” she said. “Their expression in their reading increased so much so it had an effect in all areas of learning.”
To vote for the video, visit http://contest.interwritelearning.com/contestant/26/# and click on the icon that says Vote for this Video.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Doug Valentine wrote on Nov 1, 2007 8:11 AM:
" Just a comment on voting. You will need to REGISTER on the site before you vote. Look at the upper right for login/ register and follow the instructions. You will receive an e-mail link to vote. We appreciate the help! "
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