Vision Statement
The members of the Closter Public School Community will be empowered to use the tools of educational technology to create, construct and shape the teaching/learning process.
Integration Learning about technology for the purpose of knowing isolated skills is counter to providing a rich learning environment for our students. Technology is not an end in itself but a tool that can enhance the learning process. Keeping this in mind, competencies are achieved in the context of a curriculum driven, project based environment where students are engaged as active learners. All students in grades 5-8 come to the computer lab through their Social Studies or Science classes where skills and content are integrated in a meaningful context. The information literacy skills that are incorporated involve the following areas:
- Keyboarding
- Wordprocessing
- Internet usage
- Database concepts and usage
- Presentations
- Spreadsheets
In all grade levels technology is integrated appropriately to support learning. This is the responsibility of all teachers.
Assisted by the Technology Instructional Coordinator, teachers develop project-based activities in which the end result is a student-created product.
Mobile, wireless labs Portable iBook laptop computer labs are available for classroom use throughout the year. This mobile, wireless lab allows students to access the Internet and create curriculum related projects in their classrooms.
Keyboarding
Keyboarding is the development of motor reflex patterns that enable your fingers to strike the correct keys automatically. Touch typing is a complex psychomotor skill. Once learned Keyboarding takes continuing practice to maintain speed and accuracy.
The goal of teaching keyboarding is to have the student concentrate on his/her ideas not on the typing process. It is considered an important communication skill.
Building on skills learned in the elementary grades by the end of eighth grade students will have developed touch typing skills.
Since computers are present in all classrooms the teaching of correct keyboarding skills is the responsibility of all teachers. To develop and maintain keyboarding skills continual practice is needed.
At home children should practice the correct fingering and practice touch typing skills on a daily basis. This should occur after the letters on the keyboard have been mastered.
Free access to an on-line tying program, however you must register.
http://www.nimblefingers.com/typing_fable.asp
Free demo is available
http://www.customtyping.com/free_demos.htm
Free demo is available
