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A of the Macintosh Computer Lab at BTW is loading at the bottom of this page. Please Be Patient.
School Year 1999-2000
Orlando Mihich, Teacher
OMihich@aol.com
The Objectives. Students are
introduced to the potential of computer technology, and become fluent
in using some of the software tools used by contemporary
professionals. Students are exposed to programming and the
construction of projects related to the math, science, and language
arts curricula.
The Curriculum. Throughout the
school year, students improve their keyboarding skills using Mavis
Beacon Teaches Typing from Mindscape. Students are introduced to the
ClarisWorks’ Word Processing Environment, to learn how to
produce professional looking documents. Subsequently, students are
exposed to the Database, Spreadsheets, and Graphics environments.
Students access necessary information from the internet, electronic
encyclopedias, computer files, CD-ROM storage devices, audio CD
disks, digital pictures and sounds, maps, and movies. The
manipulation of digital photography is also introduced. The
curriculum follows the New York State Learning Standards, e.g.:
NYS Learning Standard 2: Students will access, generate, process, and
transfer information using appropriate technologies.
Students are exposed to some of the best educational software on the
market like SimCity and SimTower, along with the popular Logical
Journey of the Zoombinis, created by the educational research group
at TERC. NYS Learning Standard 5: Students model and simulate the
design of a complex environment by giving direct commands.
A major focus of the curriculum is the creation (construction) of
projects using MicroWorlds 2.0, a logo-based multimedia tool. Logo, a
language for learning, is a programming language derived from LISP,
the language of artificial intelligence. Logo provides an environment
where students are in control of the computer, and assume the role of
teachers. NYS Learning Standard 5: Students develop an
understanding of computer programming and attain some facility in
writing computer programs.
For a sample of constructionist approach to learning, point to one of
my students’
work at the Logo Foundation site.
In the tradition of constructionism (students do best by finding for
themselves the specific knowledge they need), the curriculum respects
the need of the student and teacher by remaining flexible.
The Lab. The Macintosh Computer
Lab at Booker T. Washington consists of 32 networked Macintosh
computers. Each student accesses his/her own electronic folder via a
personal password. Over this summer, the Lab has been wired for
access to the Internet. The final connections are still under
construction. As soon as the system becomes operational, students
will be able to access the Internet.
The Progressive Parent. The
digital age has come home, and parents everywhere wonder about its
revolutionary effects on their children and families. For a better
understanding of this new world, and a provocative analysis of the
nature of knowledge and learning the following books are a great
source of information.
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The Children's Machine, Papert, Seymour (1993). |
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The Connected family, Papert, Seymour (1996). |
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One Size Fits Few, Ohanian, Susan (1999). |
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The Book of Learning and Forgetting, Smith, Frank (1998). |
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Life On The Screen, Turkle, Sherry (1995). |
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The Case Against Standardized Testing: raising the Scores, Ruining the Schools, Alfie Kohn (2000)* |
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Will Standards Save Public Education, Meier, Deborah (2000) |
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Caught in the Middle, Ohanian, Susan (2001). |
*Reviewed for amazon.com by Gary A. Stager, friend and editor of Logo Exchange.
The Macintosh Lab at BTW (Pan through the 360° view of the lab in session. Control key to zoom out.)
