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Highlands School > Media Center > Media Center Blog

2/7/2012

IPADS
Some people have them; some people don't.  Some teachers have them; some teachers don't. Some students have them; some students don't. So what? How important is this technology in a student's education?  Since we are all very dependent on our various forms of technology and communication, having an iPad, one of the latest technological advances for the masses, seems like a natural progression. More teachers have begun using iPads for personal use to develop their own expertise using electronic tablets and for educational purposes finding ways to engage students. Students can use iPads in numerous ways like to make pictures and videos, do research, play games, read books, and email. Teachers use them for administrative purposes, student assessments, email, pictures, videos, and games, too!  Using the iPads for instructional purposes can be motivating for students, especially if they don't have one at home to use.
 
Now, you know there must be a downside!  Even with the iCloud, without an email account set up on the iPad, students cannot save work created on iPads. IPads will not show a Flash video.  IPads do not have a USB port. IPads only use wireless networks. And, finally, iPads are NOT indestructible!  Cracked screens are common when iPads are dropped or slide off desks and tables. 
 
My conclusion?  I am glad that we have iPads available for our students and feel that there are many useful educational applications to enhance students' education. Teachers need to embrace this technology and find out what is "out there" that will help them to integrate this technology into their curriculums.
Posted at 1:09 PM by Carol Bowen | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

12/29/2010

What's up for 2011?
It's almost here . . . the new year, 2011, or twenty-eleven as they say on TV. Our last week before Christmas break was interesting, three of the five days were snow days and the other two were delayed starts. Wonder what the rest of winter 2011 will be like?  We already have one Saturday make up day - let's hope we don't have any more!  But I really didn't want to write about the weather.  Highlands is Highlands.  Love it or leave it! 
 
All the indicators are that this will be an even harder year financially for our state and particularly our schools. Will we have larger classes?  Fewer teachers and assistants? No budget as opposed to a reduced budget for books? What will we do differently to continue to give our students the quality education they need? Whatever the outcome, the teachers at Highlands School are up for the challenge. We share a vision for educating our students and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.  Great teachers' resources are endless and go way beyond textbooks and supplies.  So, I refuse to start twenty-eleven worrying about budgets.  I plan to proceed with the passion of my heart to help students learn to read and love to read. I will continue to guide students through the maze that is cyberspace, the processes of research, and the ethical uses of technology. So, come on, 2011, let's see your best game and I will show you mine!
(PS. Happy Birthday, Mama. I haven't forgotten.)
Posted at 10:33 PM by Carol Bowen | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

9/23/2010

Carol and Marty's Big Adventure!
I accompanied Marty Greeble, Media Coordinator at the new Mountain View Intermediate School, to Raleigh on a book-picking mission.  Her new school's Media Center is in need of books, and our NC Department of Public Instruction generously offered some new books from their evaluation library which is being discontinued.  Our challenge, which we readily accepted, was to examine the books and select ones we felt were appropriate for this Fifth/Sixth grade school with students whose reading levels range from 1.7 to 12+.  When we arrived on Monday afternoon, we were shown the library and given a tour to show us where the books from which we could choose were located.  We quickly got to work and had selected nine boxes worth by the end of the day. After a hard day's work (driving to Raleigh from Franklin is no short drive!), Marty and I splurged with a trip to the mall and a nice dinner at the Olive Garden, followed by "Dancing with the Stars!"
 
All rested up, we were back at work the next morning selecting more books and filling more boxes.  It was almost noon when we loaded our bounty on carts and headed down the elevator. It was there that we briefly saw Supt. Atkinson as she hurried off the elevator!  Waiting for our load was our dark blue Ford Crown Victoria, affectionately dubbed "Big Blue" from previous trips to conferences.  We filled "Big Blue" with all those boxes, and he didn't complain one bit!  We were fortunate, however, that we had filled the tires before we left! 
 
The last part of our adventure was taking a walking tour of the grounds of the North Carolina State Capitol.  We enjoyed seeing all the wonderful bronze sculptures and reading about North Carolina's statesmen and heroes. 
 
Alas, the long trip back to the mountains loomed ahead so we had to leave Raleigh.  We left, however, with a carload of books, a feeling of thanks that our DPI was willing to help our small school system in the Western mountains, and the satisfaction of a job well done. The final reward will be seeing all those wonderful new books on the shelves at Mountain View Intermediate School.
 
Posted at 3:00 PM by Carol Bowen | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

8/23/2010

Can this possibly be the 2010-2011 school year?
It is hard to believe that I am beginning my eighth year as Media Coordinator at Highlands School! I never envisioned working in a K-12 school, in fact, other than private schools, I never knew there were such schools.  But this has been a wonderful experience for me; one that I would not change in any way. I have the privilege of loving on the little ones and enjoying watching all the students grow up right before my eyes until before I know it they are juniors planning the prom and then seniors gearing up for all their senior events. I love all the connections I have with all our students and am looking forward to a fabulous school year.  I am a little nostalgic, however, as the class I have helped sponsor since they were in ninth grade will be graduating June 11, 2011.  Savor every moment and let's enjoy it together!
Posted at 9:10 PM by Carol Bowen | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)

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