Technology

Fall 2007 Technology Update

     This fall, as we begin a new school year we welcome the addition of new technology at Nolachuckey. We have added three CPS systems at school. CPS systems allow the teachers to quiz or test the students and get immediate feedback. With the CPS systems students hold a remote answering device and answer questions from quizzes and tests the teachers have developed. The tests are stored on computer and appear on the tv screen. Classes that are using them are very excited about the possibilities.

     Programs that we have added for the 2007-2008 school year include Renaissance Place, a program for K-3 to use for Literacy testing and a program for grades 3-8 named Foresight. The Foresight program includes many areas outside of technology. It helps teachers to raise their level of instruction to promote improvement on TCAP test scores.

Spring 2007 Technology Update

This spring we just finished up our Winter benchmark test for the Princeton Review. These benchmark tests give teachers information on student learning in regard to the SPI's or Student Performance Indicators. We feel that these tests will help students achieve a higher level of success on this spring's TCAP tests. Also teachers continue to use the Gradebook Portal section of the SSMS to archive and average grades.
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Fall 2006 Technology Update

The Fall of 2006 brought many changes and updates to the technology of Nolachuckey School. As the school year began we were using a new grading program that is part of the "SSMS" program. "SSMS" or Statewide Student Managment Systsem is a web based system supported by the state. It contains student information on the students, creates student numbers that are used by the students in the lunchroom and computer labs and can be used as a grading program by the teachers. Office personnel also will be using the program to print gradecards this year.
This Fall we will be piloting a web-based software program. This program, Princeton Review, is an assessment program that teachers can use to determine what SPI's or Student Performance Indicators, need to be addressed. We feel this program will be a valuable tool to help us better our TCAP scores.

Fall 2005 Technology Update

     In the Spring of 2004 the Technology Department with the help of Dr. Miller purchased an IPM board for school -wide use. An IPM board is hooked to a computer and the images on the computer are projected onto the IPM board. The board then becomes an extension of the computer and can be manupilated just as the computer can. Teachers have put it to good use and the students are very excited about its use.
   In the fall of 2005 the school received twenty-five new Gateway computers to replace the South Pod lab. The computers from the lab will be distributed to the classrooms for student use.
     Greene County schools are now using an on-line program called SSMS to report attendance and grades to the Central Office. This program issues students a student number that is used to access programs in the labs and the cafeteria.

     As we begin the new school year there have been several changes and updates regarding technology at Nolachuckey School. We have a new webmaster, we have added some new software programs to help students in the areas of Math, Language Arts, and Reading Vocabulary and we have changed the way in which grade cards are produced and sent home.
      We have been using Making the Grade here at Nolachuckey for about two years. Previously it was just used to average grades and the grades were given to Mrs. Wright to put in the computer using the Horizon Program which printed out the grade cards you have been used to seeing in the past. Using the Making the Grade program teachers print out their own grade cards which eliminates the work that Mrs. Wright had to do. Now the grade cards are put in the students folder to be taken home, signed, and returned. Six week grade cards will be gold in color while the interim reports will remain white.
     New programs we have added from last year include the new version of Cornerstone. This program includes Language Arts, Math, and Reading Vocabulary lessons. This new program has replaced A+ as our primary program for student learning. We also have installed an update to the Academy of Reading which we hope will help to inspire students to use the program more effectively.
     This year we have also added a new program in which the students in grades 6-8 take their six week Science and English tests and transfer the answers to a web page, which in turn grades the test and provides the teacher with information as to what objectives need to be retaught or reinforced.
     The Technology Committee for 2004-2005 includes: chairperson-Suzanne Shults, Stephen Gregg, Rebecca Reaves, Mike Garner, Eugene Broyles and Leslie Miller.
     We have a new webmaster at Nolachuckey. My name is Mike Garner. I have just begun the webmaster duties this year and am just learning some of the things I need to know to be a competent webmaster. I realize some of the web page has been slow to be updated and hopefully from now on that will not be the case. I am very interested in learning how to manage the webpage and believe the web page will start to show improvement. I ask that you be patient while I go through this learning process. Thank You.

      A Dell 4600 file server was installed in November. This new server is part of a district wide WAN setup in October. All current software, including Horizon XP student management program, has been moved over to the new server.
      The three older computers from the office were placed in classrooms throughout the building.
The school currently has 123 computers connected to the network and internet for student and faculty use.
     Our new keyboarding program “ Type to Learn3” was installed on March 16 and is in use by the students. We feel this will be very beneficial for all of the students. They are very excited about the program and are eager to learn keyboarding.
     Our Orchard Science programs have been updated and include Reading Vocabulary Words from the Scott Foresman Reading series. We are presently installing an updated version of the Academy of Reading. All of these programs are available in both labs. Next year we are scheduled to receive updated and additional software for the Skillsbank Math and Reading series.
      Our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teachers have been busy integrating technology into their classrooms through the use of large screen displays. They are able to present slides and practice tests from their computer to the large screen for the whole class to veiw. They feel this will be a plus in improving TCAP scores which are coming up soon.
      Four teachers have completed a course in creating PowerPoint presentations. These teachers will instruct the remaining faculty in using PowerPoint to present lessons to the students.

We've been very busy this school year keeping Nolachuckey updated in
technology. Some of our projects to date include:

     Title II Part D - We have applied for a grant that would provide
     money for training in Power Point. This program can be useful to
     students as well as teacher as a means to present information.
     We have purchased three Dell computers for our office staff.
     The cafeteria has a new Dell computer.
     In the near future Nolachuckey will install a new Dell 4600 server
     and upgrade for Novell to Version 6.
     Upon installation of the new server, a typing tutorial program and
     Orchard software updates will be added to both computer labs.

Exciting things are happening at Nolachuckey School this year! We feel that we have made great strides in the area of technology. We feel that these improvements will benefit not just the students, but parents and teachers, as well.

The North Pod computer lab has been upgraded with the aquisition of twenty-three new Dell computers. In addition to this we have added several new software programs to help bolster student achievement. These programs include: The Academy of Reading, Orchard Science, Mapskills, and Making the Grade. Using these programs in addition to the A+ Math and Reading gives us a well-rounded learning program.

The Academy of Reading program is designed to help students who need additional help in improving their reading skills. Orchard Science is being used to help prepare students for the Science section of the Terra Nova test. Mapskills is a program designed to help students understand maps and their many uses. The A+ reading and math programs provide students with supplemental practice in these skills. Lastly, the Making the Grade program is being used by teachers to average and record grades and send home interim reports.

In addition to these new improvements the staff at Nolachuckey have received training in using these programs. We have just recently completed web page training in with all teachers and the Nolachuckey School home page has been updated with all teachers having web pages. The web pages will be updated periodically, so be sure to check out your child's class page. In addition to web page training, teachers have received training in using the A+ program, Orchard Science, and Making the Grade programs.

The technology department of Nolachuckey is also doing their part to aid the Greene County Board of Education in reducing the schools electrical bill. Computer monitors are being set to automatically shut off after fifteen minutes of inactivity. Computer hard drives will shut down after one hour.

Don't forget to check out the new teacher web pages and have a happy and safe rest of the school year.

Technology 2001-2002: All computers at Nolachuckey Elementary School are connected to the internet. Each classroom has at least one computer available for students use and several of our rooms have three or more computers. We also have two computer labs each with over twenty-five computers. These labs are available throughout the day. North Pod students, grades five through eight, have a lab strictly for their use. South Pod students, grades kindergarten through four, have a lab strictly for their use. We have purchased a number of programs that we feel improve learning and enhance our curriculum. Students at Nolachuckey have access to the Cornerstone Program for Language Arts and Math. Students have access to the A+ Advanced Learning skills program which correlates with the State of Tennessee's Educational Objectives. Students in grades five through eight have access to the Geo-Science software program. Our library has a reading program, Reading Counts, which encourages young readers in a competitive way. Each teacher has access to Microsoft Works, Excel, and PowerPoint to enhance their teaching methods. Technology is an area of primary concern as we educate young people to become productive citizens for the 21st Century.