April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
School honored for tech efforts
The school is one of 12 Catholic elementary schools from around the country chosen to participate in the National Catholic Education Association's SPICE symposium at the University of Dayton this July. SPICE stands for Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education.
The theme of this year's symposium is Forming Innovative Learning Environments through Technology. Participants will share information on technology programs and will be presented with ideas to enhance existing programs.
Moving up
St. Jude's was chosen to participate in the symposium for its rags-to-riches technology program."When I came three years ago, they had two mobile computers and no curriculum," explained Patricia Simmons, the school's technology teacher.
There is now a computer lab with 11 work stations, two notebook computers and two additional work stations per classroom. There is a technology plan and curriculum in place, and a technology committee advises Ms. Simmons.
This was accomplished through Federal Title I monies, parish support, grants, donations and fund raisers. Also, a parishioner secured four computers through the New York State Lottery.
All involved
According to Ms. Simmons, the technology program has taken off because of the interest of both the parish and larger community. "We wouldn't be able to do it without the support from everyone," she said. "The community has been very helpful."The technology committee plays an important role in the program. Made up of parents of students and people without children in the school, the committee held meetings to determine what technology skills were important for students to develop.
"We went out to the local community and asked them what do you want students to know for their higher education and for jobs," she said.
Many uses
The outcome was a technology plan that integrates computers into the curriculum, teaches basic skills and even allows the students to have fun. An example of technology being integrated into the curriculum is the fifth graders using computers to research the Revolutionary War and Black History Month.Students come in small groups to the computer room so that each student has a computer to work on. Kindergartners through second graders spend 20 minutes in the lab. Third through sixth graders have 30 minutes.
The lab is also used for math and reading remediation. "It gives them a different way of learning," Ms. Simmons said.
Her advice to other schools trying to get a technology program off the ground is to "just take it slowly. We don't have the money, but we constantly promote the program."
(St. Jude School's website can be viewed at www.rcdaschools.org/stjude.)
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