21st Century Learning: Delaware Elementary Style

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The pictures in the video below show the students at Delaware Elementary at their finest! They are working with technology, doing hands-on projects, and collaborating with others. 21st century skills are so widespread that students have to be using multiple skills during every lesson and all of the projects on which they are working. I believe that classes today still need to have a balance of human interaction and group learning, hands on production, and technology use. Our students need to know the technology that they will have to use when they have jobs in the future and we need to prepare them for this, but they will also need to know how to work with people and that should be part of our teaching, as well. 21st Century learning is truly a comprehensive process that requires numerous types of teaching and collaboration such as those shown in this video. Enjoy!

How Can We Create Amazing Digital Citizens?

This is a topic that means a ton to me. We are a very fortunate elementary school in that we have netbooks for all grade levels and grade level sets of iPod touches and iPads to use for our lessons. Our population is 95% poverty and I love that while our students may not have access to these technology tools at home, they have a plethora of them at school. While we have the access, our students sometimes do not have the knowledge necessary to use the tools that we have. I have created an action plan that our staff can implement each school year with all grade levels in order to improve our students' digital literacy and citizenship. A presentation of the steps we will take as a staff to ensure amazing digital citizens at Delaware:




A little more detailed explanation of the presentation, but not as many pictures. :o)


Digital Citizenship Action Plan

Let's Paint the Ceiling!

Just a quick post to brighten the day...my after school program of first and second graders in 2011 painted ceiling tiles for the elements and principles of art. A few did some of the famous artists we study, as well. I've painted two and we are adding to the collection of ceiling tile paintings as time permits. They are just too pretty to not post them! :o)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

How to Bridge the Digital Divide

The digital divide has shifted from being having access to technology and the web versus those who do not, to how people are connecting to the internet. While many people used to have no access to the internet in any form, many people now have access through smart phones. This is better than nothing, but it is absolutely not the same as having access through a broadband Wi-Fi connection.  Job applications, submitting resumes, and other necessary tasks can usually only be accessed through computer access. Students that do not have access at home to technology and the internet, for fun or practical purposes, will likely not have the technological literacy that is necessary to function in the digital world. It is our job, as teachers in today’s society, to teach them how to utilize the resources available at the moment. While many schools are still lacking in the technology that would enable the teachers to instruct on the many uses, slowly but surely, we are getting there. Unfortunately, the new digital divide is still leaving some schools behind as new technological resources are developed daily. It seems as though there may always be some sort of digital divide as products and software evolves. My hope is that it will become more common in ALL schools and that the children in schools now will learn how to make the most of the amazing resources available.

As teachers, we need to keep in mind that students need to use technology for more than just a reward. We need them to see the internet and technology as a resource that can be used to learn, not just to play. We also need to ensure that the students are taught how to use netbooks or iPads so that the navigation does not slow them down on researching topics and working on projects. At Delaware, we do not have textbooks. We use netbooks, iPod touches, and iPads as our textbooks. It is imperative that our students know the basic commands of each technology so that they are not bogged down with how to save their work and tasks such as that. As a staff, we have been committed to creating meaningful and practical lessons that are standards based and employ real life situations. We have grade level PLC (professional learning community) meetings to plan and discuss what is needed for grade levels. We also do vertical alignment so that our students know that the expectations of them in class are not going to change year after year. We have seen much success with the programs and reform we are implementing at our school. Not only does having the technology available make planning our lessons fun, it makes them engaging lessons for our students. Using technology at our school is not an infrequent occurrence, but a daily requirement. Our students can make a Prezi (prezi.com) in an instant, as well as many other web applications, and can teach me tons in just one class period when it comes to the digital world. We allow the students to create and contribute to the digital world and they LOVE it. When you think of the jobs that our students are likely to be doing when they graduate both high school and college, technology knowledge is an absolute MUST! The best way to learn and to have it become second nature is to dive right in.

Our collaborative VoiceThread on "Bridging the Digital Divide"

Do What You Love!

I am an elementary art teacher with about 500 students K-6! I graduated in 2005 from the University of Evansville with a degree in Elementary Education and went back later to add on my middle school Visual Arts endorsement. My first year of teaching was at Delaware Elementary teaching third grade in Evansville, Indiana. Next, I moved to Newburgh, Indiana to teach art at 2 elementary schools with a stint teaching fourth grade, as well.  In the past I have also worked as a Title I math aide. Three years ago, I came full circle back to Delaware as the art teacher and have been here ever since!


I love art and I love teaching...so it would seem that I have the perfect job for me! I believe that in order to truly be successful in your job, it helps if you actually LOVE what you do.  Lucky me! Delaware Elementary is an Equity School in the EVSC and we have an extended school year, as well as and extended school day. The extra class time allows our students to have not only gym, art, and music, but also technology, Lego engineering, and Spanish classes.  We are lucky enough to have many technology resources at our school such as class sets of netbooks, iPads, iPod touches, Promethean boards in all rooms, among others.  We do not have textbooks anymore and we utilize these resources daily! I am pursuing a Master's degree in elementary education with an emphasis in technology for this reason.  While most of the art we work on in my class is hands on with art supplies, there are many ways to incorporate technology into my lessons.  I am hoping to learn more about the resources available and how to expand my students' knowledge base for art.  


At this point, somewhat early in my career, I'm not sure I truly see myself moving out of the classroom because I love it so much.  There may be a time later that I feel differently but for right now, I am doing what I love!