“Millennial Learning Project” Brings Technology To The Classroom
The Sonora Elementary parent teacher organization is hosting a auction/dinner fundraiser to be held at the fairgrounds on October 11th. The focus for fundraising will be for the Millennial Learning Project; bringing technology into the classroom. Glenda Sinclair who is with the Technology Committee at Sonora Elementary was Thursday morning´s KVML Newsmaker.
What is the Millennial Learning Project?
Sinclair said that in its second year at Sonora Elementary, the Millennial Learning Project is a project designed by parents and teachers and aimed at moving technology from the traditional computer lab into the classroom. Children are 21st century learners, comfortable and preferring to use technology as a tool for research, projects and presentations. Teachers must also be trained to teach differently, to let the learning become more student centered, student directed, individualized.
Ultimately Sinclair wants to see higher test scores, improved writing and math skills, better research skills and higher levels of motivation in both the students and the teachers. They have identified age appropriate technology to include laptops for all 7th/8th graders, Smartboards for 4-6th and projectors and surround sound for all grades. Today, 7th and 8th graders use the laptops in virtual labs, for online research and for multimedia projects. 5th graders have Smartboards, and the classroom is wired with surround sound. It has been determined that surround sound dramatically improves the learning environment for all ages. A teacher with a mike has better control of the classroom: all children have that front row seat experience. The teachers that are using sound today don´t want to be without it.
Sinclair needs the community´s help to fund these projects. On October 11th a dinner auction will be held at the Fairgrounds from 5-10PM. Throughout the evening this technology will be showcased so that the community can see how powerful these tools are…students will show some of the ways technology is used; from multimedia projects to virtual science labs. They will also be hosting a “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” game show utilizing the Smartboard technology.
This should be a fun night; It´s a luau, wear your “Tommy Bahama” shirt and flip-flops, tickets are $20 including dinner; 250 Grand raffle tickets for a dirtbike are available at Gold Rush Motorsports or the school, $40 or 2/$50) All tickets can be obtained by calling Sonora Elementary at 532-3159.
The Newsmaker of the Day can be heard each weekday morning at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47 on AM-1450 KVML.
Written by Mark Truppner
