The tech team at Flynn came back from Spring break feeling more cheerful I think, or at least I did, and not just because we'd had a break. Just before the vacation, two things happened which will hopefully significantly improve our teachers' lot in life in the classroom.
First, the PTA voted unanimously to reallocate some funds from an area no longer needed, towards buying 11 LCD projectors for the 3rd through 5th grade classrooms. We can't stretch to new laptops for them, but the majority have their own they can use and those that don't will be supplied with laptops from the library (old ones that hopefully will continue to function). We're now at the testing stage having identified one projector at a good price, and hope to order the rest in the next week or so.
The second event, was the visit from three charming IPEVO people who came from their office in Sunnyvale down the peninsula, to deliver two cameras to us and to show Miss Lisa, the Media Tech Teacher at our school, and I how they work and all they can do. After talking for a couple of hours we realised that we had only started to see their potential when we first looked at them. Like the ELMO they can be used as a document camera. But we were also able to see that they can film presentations, act as a web cam, and their zoom macro function worked brilliantly when looking at the chrysalises in the butterfly house in the library. So many possibilities for teachers to look at.
So, good things are happening and more work is needed to make sure that we make the most of this: training for staff, use of the cameras in the classroom and so on. Expect to hear much more soon on this blog.
