Technology in Middle School

Technology in the Middle School is focused on building research and information literacy skills. Where appropriate, the Educational Technology Coordinator partners with the librarians to further this effort.

Activities and projects that target these specific skill sets are progressively layered, or scaffolded, throughout grades three through five. In each case, students are encouraged to “become experts” on a particular topic of their choosing. Students are guided toward teacher-approved, age-appropriate links as they begin Middle School and take more ownership of the research process as they progress through the division.

All Middle School classrooms have two designated 40-minute periods each week in the Mac Lab. The Educational Technology Coordinator and classroom teacher will often collaborate and/or co-teach. Teachers also have access to three mobile laptop carts if they wish to continue projects back in their classrooms. Additional tools such as video cameras, audio records, and LCD projectors are easily available from the Technology Department.

Considerable emphasis is also placed on writing and editing. Students occasionally use graphic organizers, such as Inspiration, to brainstorm their thoughts, coordinate their research, and plan out reports. They practice word processing extensively using Microsoft Word and become confident using online tools as they self-edit or peer-edit. Students use a variety tools to present projects to peers and parents through grades three through five, including Power Point, Keynote and iMovie.