Welcome to the computer lab at Homer-Center Elementary School. Students in grades K-6 come to the lab for classes once every 4 days. During the computer lab classes students learn basic computing skills, keyboarding techniques and research skills.
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Carnival Countdown Math is a favorite of the primary students. |
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In addition to direct instruction, part of the computer lab time is spent on integration of technology and the classroom curriculum. Students work on projects that relate to many curriculum areas, especially science and social studies. Visit the Web Projects page to see examples of these projects.
Our students use a variety of commercial software packages that are coordinated with the curriculum. Reader Rabbit, Word Munchers, Mighty Math Zoo Zillions, Number Heroes and Calculating Crew, Carnival Countdown Math, The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis and Ice Cream Truck are just a few of their favorites.
The lab is also used for classroom word processing and desktop publishing. Students in kindergarten through third grade use Scholastic Keys from Microsoft Office, The Student Writing Center and The Ultimate Writing and Creativity Center, while students in grades 3-6 use Microsoft Word. All students use Microsoft Paint or Tux Paint, along with the drawing packages included with the above software. Students in grades 3-6 use The Print Shop to create greeting cards, signs and brochures. New in the computer for 2008-09 is Corefx, a drawing program with multiple levels allowing students across the grades to use the same program, but with simplified feature sets for the younger students.
Type to Learn Jr. is used to introduce keyboarding to the primary students. In kindergarten and first grade the concentration is on locating the keys on the keyboard and using special keys such as Enter, Shift and Backspace. At the beginning of third grade the students are introduced to the home keys and the use of correct fingering is encouraged. Formal keyboarding practice is included in the curriculum for grades 3 - 6. Sunburst's Type to Learn will be used in these grades. This new networked software will track the student's progress throughout the year. Students are encouraged to use the keyboarding skills learned in class at all times. Parents should encourage student to practice these skills at home.
Students in grade 3-6 create a Powerpoint presentation project based on a specific area of their curriculum. The use of spreadsheets to record data and create graphs in introduced in 2nd grade using MaxCount and continued in 4th grade using Microsoft Excel. Inspiration and Kidspiration are used for concept mapping projects. Windows Movie Maker is another tools the students can use for creating simple video projects.
Simple programming skils and animation concepts are fun to learn using Scratch. Scratch is a free program developed by MIT to help young people create interactive projects using a simple programming language.
The computer lab is open to students for independent work in the mornings before class and during recess times. There are some open time slots that teachers may schedule for special projects.
