A Lutheran School and Technology

   Danielle Altieri and Alison Nack

An Interview with 2 Technology Educators

1. What are some fun technology connections 

that you are seeing in your Lutheran school?

This year, the Robotics Club is available to our elementary school grades in addition to our Middle School students which gained a lot of interest. The students work together to program robots to complete tasks. The Middle School Robotics team competes in competitions in North Carolina.

In the classroom, our students use Google for Education to create websites, amazing presentations, digital art, and research papers. The students also learn how to touch type so they can be efficient when working on technology.

The second grade class used a really fun app on the iPad’s named ChatterPix Kids. We used it to bring U.S. symbols to life. The students draw a picture, then upload the picture of their drawing into the ChatterPix Kids app. Then, use the app to record the student voice giving factual information about the symbol. The app makes the symbol drawing look like it is speaking and has the student’s voice. The students enjoyed the entire process and especially once their symbol came to life.

There are also many educational websites to use in the classroom that provide virtual tours with in-depth information using videos, pictures, and maps. It is like going on a field trip without ever leaving your classroom. For example, to experience a virtual tour of the battles of the Civil War, go visit the following website: virtual-tour.civilwar

Virtural Reality is gaining popularity. Our school is planning to incorporate Google Expeditions in the near future.

2.  What is the greatest challenge for the integration 

of Technology practices in your school?

Finding time to teach teachers the new technology is the greatest challenge. We have found that making part of a teacher workday as a “technology training” time is helpful.

3.  How would it be most effective for parents and teachers

to work as a TEAM with technology usage in the school?

The school needs to select the best technology to use. Then offer training for the parents that is effective and easy to learn. For instance, we created Screencasts trainings for parents to watch at their leisure(while at soccer practice, at home, etc…) to learn our new school information system. We also sent Screencasts to teachers to explain specific topics. If parents or teachears needed more help, then additional in person training was offered.

Thanks to 

Danielle Altieri and Alison Nack

for this "field report"

from Resurrection Lutheran School 

in Cary, North Carolina.