Mentioned in previous blogs, my field observations took place at Noble Elementary in Cleveland Heights. Unfortunately with the chaos of events happening currently, my cooperating teacher has yet to respond to my email about their technology usage at school. I decided to look on the school’s website for any information regarding technology, as well as recalling what I have experienced for the few times I was in the classroom.
Here’s what I found:
The Noble Library has a Library Media Ancillary — someone who provides support to the primary activities of an organization, institution, or industry. In this case, the ancillary works specifically in the library media to help people with problems/questions they have about online resources (magazine databases, newspapers, other purchased digital resources). For convenience, the library offers an online “Noble Library Catalog”. They also provide a link to access elementary online resources — all found on the library website.
The students are assessed through MAP testing three times per year. Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) “is a state and nationally aligned program that provides CH-UH educators with the information that they need to improve teaching and learning and to make student-focused, data-driven decisions”. This test is taken on the computer. It generates the test questions based on students’ responses and adjusts to a students’ skill level so that each student takes an individualized test. Noble has a data, research, and assessment staff that specifically works in preparing for MAP testing: director of data, research, and assessment, administrative assistant, application specialist, and a systems analyst.
Noble takes advantage of online websites for school such as Google Classroom, Clever, and IlluminateEd. The links to these programs were listed on their website. I clicked on them and it took me to their sign-page, so I imagine every teacher, parent, and student have their own account. They also take advantage of Parent Portal, an online source for parents to access their child’s grades, attendance, etc.
There is a supply list provided on their website with a list of materials that students need for the year. One of the materials were headphones/earbuds for their iPads. I imagine the school provides classroom iPads or a place in the school where you are able to rent them out for a time period. During my time in Mrs. Bruce’s classroom, she had a cart of chrome books which the students use frequently throughout the day.
Overall, the usage in technology at Noble Elementary seems to be used quite frequently. Observing in the classroom, the students were familiar and engaged with the technology they were utilizing. I assume that the school provides all of the technology to their students, although there may be some fees that families have to pay in order for them to have access.
Educational Technology -- Mlyssa 