Escuela Prescolar, Escuela Prescolar,

Elemental e Elemental e IntermediaIntermediaDASKALOSDASKALOS Using Technology to Using Technology to Enhance, Enrich Enhance, Enrich

& Extend the Curriculum& Extend the Curriculum

The Nature of the ProjectThe Nature of the ProjectCurriculumCurriculum::1)1) Redesigns course curricular Redesigns course curricular

content allowing delivery via content allowing delivery via an academic platform.an academic platform.

2)2) Enriches the curricular Enriches the curricular content with resources from content with resources from the internet (web supported the internet (web supported or web ephemeral)or web ephemeral)

3)3) Provides universal access Provides universal access on real time to curricular on real time to curricular content (synchronous) or content (synchronous) or in a delay form in a delay form (asynchronous) (asynchronous)

4)4) Provides rational course Provides rational course content indexes accessible content indexes accessible via via course web sitescourse web sites. .

Student – Teacher Student – Teacher interactioninteraction

1)1) Teachers reach students Teachers reach students all the time and connect all the time and connect with their work. Students with their work. Students can ask questions and can ask questions and send work synchronously send work synchronously or asynchronously. or asynchronously.

2.2. Teachers communicate Teachers communicate via bulletin boards in the via bulletin boards in the platform or via email. platform or via email.

3.3. Teachers structure Teachers structure discussion groups, chat discussion groups, chat rooms, forums to discuss rooms, forums to discuss class material.class material.

StudentsStudents1)1) Develop computer related Develop computer related

skillsskills

2)2) Learn to read web sites, Learn to read web sites, search and access directories, search and access directories, libraries, information links; libraries, information links; the use of graphic organizers the use of graphic organizers to guide their searchesto guide their searches

3)3) Have access to course Have access to course content all the timecontent all the time

4)4) Complete homework Complete homework and do researchand do research

5)5) Write compositions and Write compositions and receive immediate receive immediate feedback feedback

6)6) Develop productive Develop productive collaborative workcollaborative work

7)7) Take virtual field tripsTake virtual field trips

TeachersTeachers

1)1) Develop computer related Develop computer related skillsskills

2)2) Learn to electronically Learn to electronically organize curriculum and organize curriculum and design electronic pagesdesign electronic pages

3)3) Acquire or improve skills Acquire or improve skills for researching the for researching the internet and for internet and for identifying sites that can identifying sites that can enrich coursesenrich courses

4)4) Administer courses easily Administer courses easily

5)5) Communicate easily with Communicate easily with parentsparents

ParentsParents1)1) Receive Receive

communications from communications from teachers on a daily teachers on a daily basis.basis.

2)2) Follow student work as Follow student work as they desire they desire

Desired OutcomesDesired OutcomesThe project is aimed to accomplish The project is aimed to accomplish the following desired outcomes:the following desired outcomes:

1)1) Students’ and teachers’ Students’ and teachers’ computer skills will be computer skills will be reinforced through the use of reinforced through the use of appropriate software and age appropriate software and age appropriate multimedia.appropriate multimedia.

2)2) Teachers will use the internet Teachers will use the internet as a resource to web support as a resource to web support their courses providing course their courses providing course specific links and sites from the specific links and sites from the web.web.

3)3) Teachers will use Blackboard Teachers will use Blackboard to organize course content that to organize course content that could be accessed from the could be accessed from the classroom, home or anywhere classroom, home or anywhere via the internet.via the internet.

4)4) Teachers will set up chat Teachers will set up chat rooms, bulleting boards, and rooms, bulleting boards, and whiteboards in each of course.whiteboards in each of course.

5)5) Teachers will communicate Teachers will communicate with students and families both with students and families both synchronously and synchronously and asynchronously.asynchronously.

6)6) Teachers will build learning Teachers will build learning communities as groups of communities as groups of students communicate with each students communicate with each other via the internet sharing other via the internet sharing information, learning about a information, learning about a topic, working on a project of topic, working on a project of mutual interest thus building mutual interest thus building trust and respect for each others’ trust and respect for each others’ differences and consequently differences and consequently achieving together common-achieving together common-course related objectives.course related objectives.

7)7) Students will learn to free search Students will learn to free search the web, elaborate e-sheets, to the web, elaborate e-sheets, to comprehend sites and to do basic comprehend sites and to do basic research.research.8)8) Students will be able to Students will be able to communicate via email, chat rooms communicate via email, chat rooms and group discussions, thereby and group discussions, thereby enhancing the learning process and enhancing the learning process and fostering cooperative learning in the fostering cooperative learning in the courses.courses.9)9) Teachers will be able to post Teachers will be able to post course work in the net to be course work in the net to be accessed from the classroom or from accessed from the classroom or from home.home.

10)10) Communication between Communication between teachers and parents will be teachers and parents will be increased and enhanced increased and enhanced through email, electronic through email, electronic bulletin boards and course bulletin boards and course web pages.web pages.11)11) Ongoing teacher and staff Ongoing teacher and staff training will be formalized and training will be formalized and made available in made available in documentary form.documentary form.

A Five Year ProgramA Five Year Program

Planning & Infraestructure Development2003-04

Ninth grade Courses Designed2004-05

7, 8 grades Courses Designed 2005-06

4, 5, 6 grades Courses Designed 2006-07

1, 2, 3 grades Courses Designed 2007-08

2008-09Summative Activities, Evaluation & Dissemination

Why use computers Why use computers in the classroomin the classroom

1.1. There is a new customer: one There is a new customer: one who is technological literatewho is technological literate

2.2. There is sufficient research on There is sufficient research on Middle School and discreet in Middle School and discreet in the Elementary School pointing the Elementary School pointing towards the academic towards the academic advantages of using computers advantages of using computers in the classroomin the classroom

3.3. In USA, some districts have In USA, some districts have recognized these advantages recognized these advantages and are using laptops.and are using laptops.

Maine: 34,000 students in Maine: 34,000 students in 77thth, 8, 8thth and 9 and 9thth grade grade

Michigan: 20,000 students Michigan: 20,000 students mostly 6mostly 6thth graders graders

Massachusetts 2, 125 Massachusetts 2, 125 students from Middle school students from Middle school

The penetration of laptops is the following The penetration of laptops is the following according to Education Week.according to Education Week.

In 2005, there were 19 students per In 2005, there were 19 students per instructional laptop, compared with 24 instructional laptop, compared with 24 last year. There is, however, last year. There is, however, considerable variation in laptop considerable variation in laptop intensity across states. It is not intensity across states. It is not surprising that Maine is the leader in surprising that Maine is the leader in providing individual students with providing individual students with laptops, with only 2.6 students per laptops, with only 2.6 students per laptop. This is the direct result of the laptop. This is the direct result of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative. Maine Learning Technology Initiative.

Why use laptops extensively in

Daskalos?

Daskalos Educational Philosophy

1.1. Student centered Student centered with emphasis on with emphasis on individual needsindividual needs

Technology Project

1.1. Project enhances Project enhances the possibilities the possibilities of individual of individual attention. attention.

This Megaproject is in perfect line with our philosophy and educational practices

2.2. Discovery Discovery approach in approach in science & science & mathematics mathematics

2.2. Permits all Permits all kinds of inputs kinds of inputs from the vast from the vast internet ; internet ; provides for provides for exploration, exploration, experimentatioexperimentation and n and simulations.simulations.

3.3. Whole Whole language language approach in approach in the teaching the teaching of English a of English a Second Second LanguageLanguage

3.3. Provides Provides access to access to books, short books, short stories, stories, novels, novels, quotations, quotations, that can be that can be used as used as reactives.reactives.

4.4. Education Education should be fun.should be fun.

4.4. The computer is The computer is probably one of probably one of the most the most important important motivational tools motivational tools for students. It for students. It provides a wealth provides a wealth of games, of games, interactive interactive exercises to exercises to enrich teaching enrich teaching practices. practices.

5.5. Education Education should be should be holistic. holistic. Students Students “multiple “multiple intelligences” intelligences” must be must be attended to.attended to.

5.5. The project The project provides provides stimulation to stimulation to all senses at all senses at the teacher’s the teacher’s will. will.

6.6. Academic Academic disciplines disciplines should be should be presented in presented in an integrated an integrated way. way.

6.6. The internet The internet allows for allows for study cases, study cases, exercises, exercises, virtual trips virtual trips that can that can make make integration integration very real. very real.

7.7. Cooperative Cooperative learning is learning is essential to essential to develop will develop will rounded rounded individuals. individuals.

7.7. The project The project facilitates facilitates group group discussions, discussions, and group and group cooperation cooperation through chat through chat rooms, rooms, forums, etc. forums, etc.

8.8. Curriculum Curriculum must have must have an an international international perspective.perspective.

8.8. The world is The world is wide open wide open with the with the project.project.

9.9. Education Education must use must use technologytechnology..

9.9. This is This is technology technology in use.in use.

10.10.The The educational educational process must process must bring together bring together parents, parents, teachers, teachers, students and students and administrator.administrator.

10.10.Everybody is Everybody is communicated communicated through this through this project. project. Parents Parents become real become real partners of the partners of the educational educational process.process.

11.11.Education Education should be should be relevant.relevant.

11.11.The internet The internet provides provides teachers with teachers with multiple ways multiple ways of making of making each lesson each lesson relevant. relevant.

ResourcesResources

Personnel Personnel

One Academic Project One Academic Project CoordinatorCoordinator

Two Technical Two Technical Coordinator ConsultantsCoordinator Consultants

HardwareHardwareLaptopsLaptops

Toshiba A60 2.8 GHZToshiba A60 2.8 GHZ 256 RAM256 RAM 40 Hard Disk40 Hard Disk

Dell Inspiron 700 1.2 CentrinoDell Inspiron 700 1.2 Centrino 512 RAM512 RAM 40 Hard Disk40 Hard Disk

Modelo Modelo Sistema OperativoSistema Operativo Capacidades de Capacidades de Procesamiento y Procesamiento y

MemoriaMemoria

Dell Power Edge 2850Dell Power Edge 2850 Windows Server 2003Windows Server 2003Standard EditionStandard Edition

4 GB de RAM4 GB de RAM

Dell Power Edge Dell Power Edge 400SC400SC

Windows Server 2003Windows Server 2003Standard EditionStandard Edition

Intel Pentium 4Intel Pentium 4CPU 2.26 GHzCPU 2.26 GHz512 MB Ram512 MB Ram

Hewlett PackardHewlett Packard Windows Server 2003Windows Server 2003Standard EditionStandard Edition

AMD Athlon™ XP AMD Athlon™ XP 3200+3200+

2.19 GHz2.19 GHz448 MB de Ram448 MB de Ram

Dell Optiplex GX 240Dell Optiplex GX 240 Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows XP Professional XP Professional (version 2002)(version 2002)

Pentium 4Pentium 4CPU 1.70 GHzCPU 1.70 GHz1 GB de Ram1 GB de Ram

ServersServers

SoftwareSoftware

BlackboardBlackboardAgilixAgilix

Costs 2004 to October 2005Costs 2004 to October 2005

Personnel Personnel 26,63426,634

HardwareHardware 154,241154,241

Blackboard Blackboard 42,45042,450

TrainingTraining 12,96012,960

TotalTotal $236,285.00$236,285.00