Technology in the elementary schools of the

Indiana Area School District

The Indiana Area School District has four elementary schools. Each school has a computer lab with 25 computers in each lab. These labs have a laser printer, scanner, and two have touch boards. Each of the primary classrooms has one PC and two or three Macs with printers. The intermediate classrooms have three PCs and a printer in each room.

The labs and classrooms use software programs that are run from the district server, as well as CDs that are specific to the grade level curriculum.

Two Technology Support teachers instruct students in the labs, and conduct teacher workshops through out the school year.

Instruction that takes place in the computer labs

5^th and 6^th grades

At the beginning of the school year we focus on proper keyboarding skills. We use the software entitled “Type to Learn” in our technology classes. The students reinforce their skills in the classroom by using “Type for Fun” software. “Type for Fun” is designed to cover only the letters that the students have learned while on “Type to Learn”. Progress charts are sent home throughout the school year. Our students have shown tremendous gains in their keyboarding ability since last year.

Computer literacy classes are taught the second half of the school year. The students use their keyboarding skills to do research using Power Library, the online catalogue, and the Internet. Students are taught the proper way to use search engines and safe sites on the Internet. Information obtained from the research is then used in Word documents and Power Point presentations that enhance subject areas in the classroom.

Other software programs for math, social studies, and language arts are also incorporated into the technology curriculum.

4^th grade

The 4^th grade classes are introduced to proper keyboarding techniques and the district hardware. We use the software entitled “Type to Learn” in our technology classes. The students reinforce their skills in the classroom by using “Type for Fun” software. “Type for Fun” is designed to cover only the letters that the students have learned while on “Type to Learn”. Progress charts are sent home throughout the school year.

Other software programs for math, social studies, and language arts are also incorporated into the technology curriculum.

Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd grades

Technology instruction in the lab is conducted on an as needed basis throughout the school year. The 2^nd and 3^rd grade students attend basic computer usage classes conducted by the Technology Support teachers. These classes are not on a regularly scheduled basis. Primary students use the computers in their classrooms during learning center activities.