Mrs. Stoodley Computer Teacher and Technology Coordinator

Welcome to computer classes at SMI!  

This is a very exciting year in the computer lab.

• Computer Clubs offer opportunities for enrichment.  
• GenYes Club for grades 7 & 8:  Students are using Ignite, the software for our new sign on Church Street.  They are tech support within our school and videographers and photographers of many aspects of life and learning at SMI.  
• Future City Club for grades 6-8:  Team members create their virtual cities in the newest version of SimCity 4 Deluxe.  They explore engineering, write essays, build a model of a future city, and present to engineers and scientists at HVCC in mid-January.
• Future Future City Club for grades 4 & 5:  Some students just can't wait until 6th grade, when they can compete in Future City.  Members of this club hone their skills building models with moving parts and designing cities in SimCity 4 Deluxe.  This club runs from February though May.
• Computer Summer Camps in August may include a themed camp for students entering Grades 1-5, Future City Camp for students entering Grades 6-8, and GenYes Camp for students entering grades 7 & 8.
• Computer Instruction - Full-time Computer Teacher provides regularly scheduled class instruction plus access to computers for school work during open lab periods, lunch periods, and after school.
• Early Childhood and Pre-K classes have weekly computer classes.  They learn basic computer skills with the mouse and keyboard, using age-appropriate software including KidPix Deluxe, Dr. Seuss Pre-K, Dr.-Seuss Kindergarten, Arthur's Math Games, Arthur's Reading Games, Arthur's Thinking Games, JumpStart Spanish, JumpStart Animal Adventures, JumpStart Explorers, and SimPark.
• Kindergarten through Grades 2 have computer class twice a week.  Math, reading and writing skills are taught alongside of computer skills.  SuccessMaker math and reading tutorials provide differentiated instruction in these areas.  MS-Word skills are developed and applied through many writing projects.  Story Book Weaver allows students to publish books they author and illustrate.  Age appropriate software supplement these projects, especially KidPix Deluxe, SimPark, Math Blaster, and JumpStart Animals.  We also use easy Web 2.0 tools, including Wordle and ToonDoo.
• Grades 3-5 have computer class three times a week.  We will have time for many new, creative computer projects.  Word-processing skills are advanced, keyboarding skills are mastered, and presentation skills are developed.  Students learn to use MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Publisher and Web 2.0 tools including Prezi, Wordle, Edmodo, Tagxedo, and ToonDoo for simple assignments and creative projects.  'The Journey Inside' unit includes learning how computers work, taking one apart, and building a computer out of Legos.  Internet safety is also emphasized.
• Grades 6-8 begin with PBL (Project Based Learning) unit related to the Future City Competition Engineering Essay.  They use resources on futurecity.org to gain expertise, edmodo.com for homework assignments, and prezi.com for their presentations in October. MS Office skills are advanced.  Keyboarding is reviewed and tested.  SuccessMaker math tutorials continue.  Internet safety, digital ethics, and Web 2.0 tools are emphasized, including Google Earth, Alice (3-D animation) Scratch, Sketch-up along with those introduced in earlier grades.  Digital film making skills are also taught. 
• The New York Technology Literacy Assessment, based on ISTE Standards, focused on the new Core Curriculum, and developed around TechYes projects, is being piloted by our 7th grade. As we have been for many years, we are once again ahead of the curve for computer education in New York State!
• New Equipment:  
• We have a new Kodak Play-touch hi-def video camera with microphone and 2 tripods from the diocese, with the assignment of creating a school presence on YouTube.  
• We have also received a  SONY Cyber-shot digital camera, Flip video camera, and a Q3 Zoom video recorder from HFM BOCES to use as we pilot the New York Tech Literacy Assessment, based on the TechYes program, ISTE standards, and the new common core curriculum.  
• 3 new Windows 7 computers.
• Network Updates:  Thanks to a generous grant, our network will soon be state-of-the-art, including wireless capability, much faster connection speeds, and new computers, whiteboards, etc.  We are so excited!!!

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