Kindergarten students are learning to log in and log out of our Kinder account in the computer labs. We are using the Starfall website for learning letter names and sounds. This website is pre-loaded onto our docks so students don't have to go too far to get to an activity appropriate for their dexterity level. However, in the next two weeks, I anticipate teaching them to navigate through the RLE homepage to the Technology Resources page, students page and Kindergarten Symbaloo. Symbaloo is a visual bookmarking page. Try it out, it's free!
First Grade has been learning how to log in to our Easy CBM testing. We worked through examples questions and how to answer them. Teachers were noticing that students wanted to click and drag items when they should have been selecting radial dials. We should have a more accurate view of what our students can do next year because lack of "how" to take the test will not be a factor. Students have also learned to navigate to their page on the Technology Resources page.
Second Grade has been working on Microsoft Word. Students are learning how to: use keyboard shortcuts, click and drag to select, highlight, change font, color and size as well as look at zoom and the Print Layout view. They are given a task, asked to print it then they can read eBooks or challenge their academic practice on the Technology Resources page. Students will start TypingWeb next week. They will have user names and passwords that can be used at school and home.
Third and Fourth Grade have both been practicing what 2nd grade is doing as well as how to save and retrieve documents from our student servers. These skills allow students to learn how to use servers, saving and retrieving digital projects in our labs and homerooms. This has proven to be harder for 3rd grade. However, as society moves into the use of cloud servers like iCloud and Dropbox, it will put our students at an advantage to have this knowledge in their toolboxes.