Getting I.T. Right

Cristal Misplay and her 1st Grade Students at Wells Branch Elementary are currently in the second year of a pilot using TeacherMate handheld computers from Innovations for Learning. To answer questions and demonstrate the use of the TeacherMates, Ms. Misplay and Round Rock ISD hosted a visit from Representative Mark Strama, Texas House of Representatives. On hand to answer questions about the TeacherMate pilot and the grants that funded the purchase of the devices was Susan Dawson of E3 Alliance.

NOTE: Image is linked to video file.

More Information:
- http://www.innovationsforlearning.org/
- http://www.e3alliance.org/
- http://rrisd-its.wikispaces.com/TeacherMate

Callison Elementary and Live Oak Elementary schools hosted the employees of Education Service Center Region XIII on November 17th, 2009 for a “field trip” in which they could interact with the students and faculty with whom they serve. The Region XIII visitors got to witness first-hand and hear directly from the students about the embedded and interactive technology that is enriching their learning environments.

On 11/14 and 11/21 twenty-nine Round Rock ISD teams from 16 campuses competed in the Central Texas First Lego League Qualifier Events. Congratulations to the middle schools teams at CD Fulkes, Canyon Vista, Cedar Valley, Deerpark, Grisham, Hopewell, and Walsh and to the elementary teams at Bluebonnet, Cactus Ranch, Callison, Caraway, Forest Creek, Gattis, Laurel Mountain, and Purple Sage. Round Rock is proud to celebrate the achievements of these teams. The * teams will go on to the competition on Dec. 12 at Rouse High School in Leander.
11/14 LBJ Qualifier Results
*Walsh1 – 4th – Research Project
*Cactus Ranch Longhorns 1- 3rd Research Project
Cactus Ranch Longhorns 3 – 3rd Teamwork
*Forest Creek – 1st Research Project
11/14 West Ridge Qualifer Results
*Laurel Mountain Team Dr. Octogonaus – 1st Champions
*Laurel Mountain LegoLions – 2nd Champions
*Laurel Mountain LegoLunatics – Wildcard
11/21 Anderson Qualifier Results
*Bluebonnet – 1st Teamwork, 3rd Research Project
11/21 Westwood Qualifier Results
*Deerpark CPU’s – 3rd Champions
*Deerpark Robanators – 3rd Research Project
*Gattis InstaGators – 2nd Robot Design
*Gattis Robo-Crocs – 2nd Teamwork
*Purple Sage Riders – 1st Research Project
*CarawayRobotechs – 2nd Research Project
*Canyon Vista Mustangs 2 – 3rd Robot Design
Canyon Vista Mustangs 4 – 3rd Teamwork
*Grisham Grizzlies – 1st Robot Design

Learn more about Central Texas FLL.

As a service-learning project, Scott Ganske’s fifth grade students at Anderson Mill Elementary combined their classroom learning with a meaningful service to the community. Students used technology to raise awareness about children’s needs around the world and the importance of getting involved and making a difference by developing an inspirational video, a wiki, a blog, a newsletter and a book.

Visit the link below to learn more about the Math Jeopardy via webcam challenge between students at Fern Bluff Elementary and Cactus Ranch Elementary.

http://fernbluffit.edublogs.org/2009/10/22/math-jeopardy-via-webcam/

IBM donated 15 Young Explorer stations to the prekindergarten classrooms at Brushy Creek, Caldwell Heights, Double File Trail, Forest Creek, Forest North, Gattis, Great Oaks, Jollyville, Old Town, Pond Springs, Purple Sage, Sommer, Teravista, and Wells Branch. These workstations come with pre-loaded educational software: Millie’s Math House®, Sammy’s Science House®, Bailey’s Book House®, Trudy’s Time and Place House®, and Thinkin Things Toony the Loon Lagoon® . The students are learning while they plan. Round Rock is very appreciative of the partnership with IBM To create engaging learning environments for our prekindergarten students. 
  http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/education/programs/kidsmart.shtml

My Life (view video here)

Ms. Callaway’s 4th grade class created “My Life” videos. They scanned in photos and original drawings, wrote a story, and narrated their creative work.

Tags: videos

Mrs. Jenkins 4th grade class at Cactus Ranch Elementary challenged students from Jefferson ISD in Louisville, Kentucky to a debate via videoconference. The topic of the debate was whether or not children should have the freedom to spend their allowance on whatever they want. Cactus Ranch students asserted that children earn their allowance and should have the right to decide how to spend it. Since both schools made strong arguments, the debate was determined a draw.

View clips from debate: CRE4thGradeDebate

What began as a friendly competition between some classrooms at Union Hill Elementary has resulted in unexpected global interest. Participating teachers at Union Hill created a “Sign My Guest Book” page on their classroom web pages where visitors could record name, city, and state to serve as a means of measuring extent and success. Ms. Allen, a fourth grade teacher at Union Hill, is now getting posts from all over the world. Her students are assigned to do a bit of quick research on the unfamiliar places, find an interesting fact or two to share with the class, and mark the location of the posts on a big map. Checking the blog has become a much-anticipated part of their day. Now their little project is the subject of a blogger in Amsterdam and has been Tweeted and re-Tweeted around the world.

http://schools.roundrockisd.org/XeniaVoigt/Voigt%20newspaper.htm

Through Xenia Voigt Elementary’s new online newspaper, students have an opportunity to communicate with a wider audience for information, views, and ideas.