| Description: |
Beulah Park Elementary (Zion, IL) was in need. How can they "swing" into the age of the computer and "climb on board" the net? Well, by building a new playground of course. The dedicated teachers and students of the fourth and sixth grades used a multimedia approach and the Internet to research and plan the school's new playground. The program became not only a vehicle for the enhanced education of the children but also a bridge for school and community. The playground is a tangible, which allows a visual result of the students' technology-based work. The students took an active role in brainstorming development ideas, researching information resources and interviewing experts with the use of the Internet.
In working with the Parent Teacher Organization, the students set criteria, collected data and communicated with outside resources. The program excited parents, community members and even government officials and has built lasting partnerships, which show the significance of technology in the school.
The students became comfortable using technology as a tool for research and instruction, which substitutes the paper and pencil tasks. The skills developed by the students in working on this program such as; identify, describe, investigate, collect, organize and analyze to name a few, will enable them far beyond the school walls.
Prior to the program, the Internet and multimedia equipment in the classroom was foreign to most teachers and students. After conducting a mini hands-on workshop, teachers began to recognize to potential uses in their classrooms. This excitement was contagious and soon other staff members throughout the district asked about information and help with their projects.
This project is being developed through the Pioneering Partners Program. |
