Middle School West, Monday May 7

This school has around 950 enrollment, similar to Jordan in our district. It has:

• 1 media specialist and 2 paras
• 3 labs
• 1 modular tech lab (the new version of Industrial Tech)
• 2 laptop carts
• 5 laptops in each science classroom
• 30 responders - piloting Quizdom
• 26 SMART boards
• 29 sound systems (SoundField Systems)
• 2 tech presentation carts
• 1 integrated broadcast system
• As at the elementaries, Blackboard & Skyward

Some Things We Saw:

Two-Minute-Teacher DVDs: 184 two-minute math videos made with Smart notebook software to help kids and parents. Includes all topics per grade level plus accelerated and remedial lessons. Available at school. DVDs can be checked out from library or bought for home. What was a small start is now a small business for a couple of the teachers.

Skyward: Their SASI. Electronic commuication, grades, attendance, scheduling, food service purchases etc.

8th Grade U.S. History: Final Jeopardy review using the board. In teams, competitive.

Math Class with Board & Quizdom (responders): Use the same IDs as for Blackboard and Skyward. Along the bottom of the screen, you see you has answered (and who answered first). Teacher can get a report of individual responses at end of session.

Connect-ED: This is a phone communication system. Like to send out the same message to all families or parents of 8th graders or whatever. Evidently, you just go online, type up the message, select the groups of recipients, determine the timing, and submit. Recieved high praise from all admins.

Modular Tech Lab: Uses Synergistics Automated Manipulation program. Includes robotics, animation, audio broadcast, digital design etc.

Music Class: Saw Music Donkey Konga in action. No Smartboard in the music room but a project, screen, and GREAT sound system. Plus a game console. The Donkey Konga game is tied to 4 sets of Conga drums. Four kids site at the drums and watch the music pattern notation race across the screen. One icon for right beat, one for left, one for both, one for alternating rapidly etc. The beat patterns speed across the screen - basically getting kids used to sight reading for speed - and then scores them at the end. You would think that just the four kids at the drums would be involved. Instead, every kid in the room was playing along and practicing for their turn at the drums.

Other Miscellaneous Notes:

Blackboard: Required of all teachers, not optional. Kids enroll themselves in their classes the first two weeks ~ no snapshot or issues therein. They use the calendar, dictionary, study tools, etc. They also bought two building blocks that they really like a lot:

• Respondus - quick way to make tests. As far as I can tell, very similar to what Bb already has. EXCEPT, makes it somewhat easier to upload tests you already have created.
• Study Mate - create a Word document and this flash device will create several different ways to study the material (eg, flash cards)

Professional Development to Support Bb: Each school has a Bb trainer. There are "train the trainer" days. Trainers are paid. Bb was required at a basic level after two years. They have a rubric to evaluate a teacher's use of the system - VERY interesting approach.