HOW TO ORGANIZEA TECHNOLOGY CLUB IN YOUR

SCHOOL

Denise TromblyNew Searles Elementary

Nashua, NHTromblyd@nashua.edu

Genesis of the idea

• Day of Code December 2013• Student Interest• Need for STEM enhancement to current

curriculum• Smarter Balance and other Computer

based testing• Prepare students for the future

LaunchFebruary 2014

• Invitation limited to Grade 5 ( student pool of 75)

• Before School 8:00-8:45 AM with additional support during lunch recess or free time

• Students to brainstorm focus• One faculty advisor

OMG !

• First meeting=31 students appeared @ 8AM

• Interest ranged from building drones and robots to coding, to media of all kinds, and simple Microsoft Office skills.

• Faculty support for the effort tremendous

• Buzz in early grades created more demand

• Excitement

Wish List of Club Activities

• Learn to Code• Make Drones• Animation• Video• Photography• Robotics• IPAD skills/Apps• Build video games

• Virtual tour of school

• Staff support• Student support• Build Computers• Podcasting• Skyping• Microsoft Office• A white board full

Re-Group and Re-think

• Recruited more staff and parent/volunteers with appropriate skills (5 more)

• Categorized the wish list into 4 broad areas: 1) Coding

2) Photography 3) Video • And… grade level support for teachers

as a secondary “job” for all students in the club

What They AccomplishedCoding

• Students were in the lab with software engineers and learned basic code. ( used Code.org CODE SITE FOR THIS YEAR tools and Khan Academy)

• Taught and learned from each other as well. Used “ ask 3 then me”

• Developed simple code for game*This years code begins December 8th

What They AccomplishedPhotography

• Photography club of Nashua provided basic teaching of how to take photos. Parent support as well

• With the help of Guidance Counselor, took pictures and helped assemble end of the year slide show ( on memory stick)

• Helped take photos for 5th grade year book

What They AccomplishedVideo

• I Movie ( in GMAIL HAPPY Virtual tour of the School and its students HAPPY

• Learned planning, storyboarding, editing and layering of music as well as I MOVIE app

• Work with NHSS students to learn broadcasting as well as all the technology that goes into production

What They AccomplishedGrade Level support

• Banners for Weather Grade 1• Designed program for graduation in Publisher

for Grade 5• Researched and created PPT for Pre K• Assisted with K-1,2 in computer lab ( I-Ready

and Smarter Balance , E-portfolio)• Banners for Art, PE• Downloading pieces for Music teacher• Finding appropriate support material for Library

for Lady Bug book nominees.

End of the Year Surprise!

• Field trip to Nashua South TV studio• Students worked as “talent”, floor

directors, in the control room and operated cameras.

• Learned many aspects of production and possibilities for careers

• Results: New Searles Take 2 and • New Searles @ NHSS 2

Results

• Lots of learning and lots of fun!• Generated much interest in all facets of

Technology and its applications• Gave each student a time to shine• Provided support for faculty and staff

( freeing up most precious time)

Plans for 2014-2015

• Continue the following: Grade 5 only Brainstorm and categorize • Changes due to learning: Work with Nashua South to start earlier Coding effort enhanced Grade level work promoted more aggressively More volunteers from the beginning

Possibilities are endless

• Do it within a grade• After school program• Challenge Groups• Speakers• Coordinate with high schools/industry• Teachers helpers• Library Media projects• Coordinate with LEGO league????

Questions

• How can we as educators build these skills and interest students in all facets of technology?

• How could this work at your school?• Any other suggestions for activities or

support?