Middle/High School
Click here to view the Middle/High School classroom setup
Let's take a peek inside Barb's high school and middle school classroom to see how technology is being used. Today's lesson on descriptive writing is a team effort from one middle school History teacher and one high school English teacher. Each class will do the same assignment simultaneously. At the end of the assignment, groups from both classes will exchange and critique each other's papers via email.
The students are sitting at their lecture desks. The below image is projected from the teacher's computer onto a large white screen at the front of the high school classroom and onto a TV screen (videoconference) in the other classroom.
The teacher asks for volunteers to describe the painting. Hands go up and the teacher types responses from both rooms onto the screen. She is careful to underline adjectives and colorful imagery words that provoke the senses. Next, the students are asked to make up a story about the painting paying close attention to who, what, when, why, why and where. She tells the students that these questions usually disclose purpose and help one find value and meaning in the work. The students are given only a few minutes and volunteers from both rooms are asked to tell their stories. After getting the students warmed up, the teacher gives a five-minute lesson on descriptive writing and assigns the project.
Individual research: The history students are learning about the Civil War. For this reason, the history students are asked to use the Internet to find and type up a brief description of two pictures pertaining to this time. The English students can locate any art history picture(s). Students will then print and present their descriptions and corresponding pictures to their assigned group.
Group work: Working collaboratively at the group table, each student will present his or her individual pictures to the group. The group will decide on one picture. The group will then use the laptop to collaborate on a group description and to create an original story about the picture.
Exchanging group emails: Groups from each class will exchange and critique each other's papers. The finished copies will be printed and posted in both classrooms.
Misc: Students will be told to include URL's beneath each picture. They will also be encouraged to ignore any rhetoric found with pictures. The goal is to create individual meaning in the works of art. The best papers will be those who employ descriptive writing and obvious critical thinking skills in their writing.
School Environment
The utopian middle and high school students benefit from a vast tapestry of technology. The school homepage is no exception. The school Web site features the below information.
School
* History of the school and surrounding area
* Current staff directory
* Extracurricular calendar and information including an online ticket option
Classes
* Description of classes
* Schedule of classes
* Registration capabilities
Student Resources
* Access to previous report cards (password needed)
* Access to personal portfolio
* Place to view and submit assigned homework if absent
* Access to the online component for each class registered for
Counseling
* Students can view personal education history
* Access information on every college in America
* Career information
* Testing information and applications
Parent Resources
* Parents can check to see if homework was assigned
* Check and register for technology training classes
* Email teachers and administrators
Teacher Resources
* Links to Educational Web sites
* Can access Human Resource Information
* Demographic information on students
* Directory
* Online technology training
* Schedule of in-person technology training
* Access to electronic articles
* An online component for each of their classes
Library
* Catalog of all available resources
* Can place material on hold
* Can speak to a media specialist
