October 18, 2013
Communiqué
An update from the Quakertown Community School District
Send story ideas to Ricki Stein at [email protected]
21st Century students, K-12, use 21st Century technology
Kindergarten students all over QCSD learn
with iPads, which qualifies as “1:1 in K,” the way
9-12 students are 1:1 with laptops. Early this
week, QE teachers Angelica DeLucia and Kristen
Martin guided students through reading and
writing lessons on the iPads. Students said they
were playing “games.” Completely engrossed,
students’ faces lit up with excitement as they
finger printed letters and formed words; made
pictures; wrote Kid Writing sentences about the
pictures; and played an Everyday Math game
called Monster Squeeze.
“The infusion of
technology enables a personalization of learning
for each child.
Whether it’s a
tablet at early
elementary or a
full sized device
in a 1:1 environment, each student has the
world of information and possibilities at their
fingertips. Enrichment and
remediation can
be made personal, digital content
can supplement a
high quality
teacher lesson,
and students now
have a variety of
ways to learn a
topic or skill, in
conjunction with
all teachers are
able to offer.”
Mrs. Martin worked through a group phonics lesson. Ms. DeLucia and aides worked with
small groups using a variety of media, including
the iPads, pencil and paper, magnetic letters
and baking sheets.
“I don't really know how the iPad game
helps me, it just does,” said Nick, a kindergartener.
Tom Murray
QCSD
Technology
Director
Strayer sixth graders create layered graphics with Word 2013
Students in Dave DiSora’s sixth grade technology class
at Strayer Middle School recently learned how to create
complicated structures with graphics available in Word
2013. They got so involved with the process, they didn’t
realize they were learning so much terminology. DiSora
reminded them they were using problem solving and creativity. Students learned to start with simple shapes, then
layer them with details, including patterns and textures.
“There’s a lot of problem solving in this unit,” DiSora
said. “It’s like playing
the Mind Craft game.
It’s like playing chess.
Because of all the layering, they have to
think three steps
ahead just to get to
the end. They have to
think about what they
want their final project
to look like. Some of
the best projects I’ve
gotten from students
in the past
were snow
globes,
candles
with eight
layers. Very
creative
structures.”
“I’m
building a
house,” Kyli
said.
“I enjoy working with the shapes,” Dana added.
Michelle started by downloading an existing image of a
real mansion. She posted it on the left side of her screen.
On the right
side, she recreated the shapes
and details with
features available in Word.
“Someday I’d
like to build a
giant house like
this, for real,”
Michelle said. “I
feel like an architect. Mr. DiSora lets us use
our creativity. If
we don’t want
to make a
house, we can
make what we
want, a car, or a
plane. It’s fun.
I’m learning
new stuff.”
Julia started
from scratch
with an idea she had for a house. Becoming a designer
some day appeals to her.
In future units, students will learn to edit music and
other audio. They will create radio broadcasts and commercials. You can watch a video about this class at
www.qcsd.org; scroll to Videos-on-Demand.
Project Lead the Way students “toy” with mechanical systems
QCHS Project Lead the Way teacher
George Banas recently assessed his students
on their ability to apply the principles behind
mechanisms learned in class. The Learning
Target required students to apply the technological design process to evaluate a solution.
In his Principles of Engineering classes,
students learned that mechanical systems
often require a combination of mechanisms to
complete a given task. Any time two or more
simple machines are combined, the result is a
compound machine. If many mechanisms are
combined, the machine may even be referred
to as a complex machine.
Compound machines can range in complexity from a crane or automobile to a simple
manual can opener. A bicycle is an example
of a compound machine. The pedals, brakes,
handle bars, and sprocket systems are just
some of the mechanisms on most bicycles.
In this activity students
worked in teams to design
and build a compound machine that had to include
three simple machines to
create a compound machine
with a combined mechanical
advantage greater than one.
The goal of the students’
compound machine was to
launch a ping pong ball the
farthest distance. Many
groups were successful with
the hands-on-activity and
one group even launched a
ping pong ball more than 40
feet! That compound machine was built with two pulleys and one first class lever.
Don’t miss these upcoming community events and opportunities!
QCEF Mother’s Market
Click here for details to become
a vendor or buyer.
BJ’s Fundraiser for QCEF
Click here for details.
UBCTS Open House for prospective students
now in grades 5-11. Click here for details.