I love, love, love the beginning of the school year! The children are just so excited to be back in the classroom, and it's always amazing to see how well they settle into the daily routine once they're back on campus. We are all about routines in the computer lab, so here is a rundown of what we've been up to so far:
First Grade
The first graders had no trouble understanding our computer lab expectations:
1) Come in quietly and sit on the carpet for the day's instructions
2) Wash your hands before touching a computer
3) Use an indoor voice
4) No food or drink
5) Show respect for the next group by returning the computer back to its "ready state" when class ends
Once we had established our guidelines for the school year we did a fun QR Code scavenger hunt activity using a set 11 iPads. The children circulated around the lab and scanned codes that revealed more detail about elements of our lab and how they need to behave for a successful year. Since we have completed our scavenger hunt we have moved on to using various websites to practice our manual dexterity and get in some mouse practice.
1) Come in quietly and sit on the carpet for the day's instructions
2) Wash your hands before touching a computer
3) Use an indoor voice
4) No food or drink
5) Show respect for the next group by returning the computer back to its "ready state" when class ends
Once we had established our guidelines for the school year we did a fun QR Code scavenger hunt activity using a set 11 iPads. The children circulated around the lab and scanned codes that revealed more detail about elements of our lab and how they need to behave for a successful year. Since we have completed our scavenger hunt we have moved on to using various websites to practice our manual dexterity and get in some mouse practice.
Second Grade
Our second graders also began the year with a rules refresher, except this year we went over the Lower School Technology Rules of the Road document that has been used exclusively by the 4th and 5th graders up to this point. The document has been revamped this year to include the Lower School's expectations for student use of all types of technology: iPads, iPod Touches, classroom computers, laptops, SMARTboards, etc. Here is a link to that document for your information:
Following our rules discussion, the second graders also participated in the QR code scavenger hunt in the lab and have since been working on designing Desktop background pictures to add some color and pizazz to our space for the year. The second graders have also learned how to use Dropbox for saving and organizing their work.
Third Grade
The third graders are also off to a great start after having gone through the same Rules of the Road document posted above. It is important for the third graders to think of this year as preparation for the Laptop Program which begins in 4th grade, so each student signed his or her name to the document as though it were a contract to uphold this year. Following our discussion of Lower School rules, the third graders have been working with Mrs. Callaway of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) to complete learning style inventories so that we can learn more about their learning preferences. They have been using Dropbox to save and store their completed inventories.
Here are some photos of our first, second, and third graders working on the QR Code Scavenger Hunt: