Saugus Iron Works PBU

If you've been following the SIW PBU blog since its launch in the summer of 2005 you are familiar with the many successes we have had in promoting the unit as a model of technology integration. Now we are pleased to announce that The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), one of the preeminent non-profit educational organizations in the U.S. wants to highlight our work. In January 2008, the GLEF contacted Thomas DeVito (Ferryway School Principal), Paul Teixeira (E.L.L. Teacher), and Robert Simpson (Teacher Learning Center Director) after viewing two movies that were produced in-house to showcase our 2007 HP Leadership grant project. Ken Ellis, GLEF's senior producer, indicated that the high level of student learning associated with the implementation of both the SIW and Biome PBUs would make an excellent topic for the foundation to highlight in a film. The film will be professionally produced and published on the GLEF's Edutopia website.

Last year, we expanded our technology integration efforts to include the pilot-test and revision of a grade four unit named the Biome Breakthrough. The Biome PBU uses a student inquiry approach that allows elementary students to make observations about the world's biomes and to investigate the physical characteristics of animals. Students navigate a teacher-created interactive website recording observations on a set of unknown animals with the ultimate goal of helping them return to their home biome. Additional technologies include concept mapping software (Kidspiration), PowerPoint Presentations using a Student Response System (Qwizdom) and Microsoft Excel.

The GLEF project team will arrive at the Ferryway School on Monday, April 14 and filming will occur on 4/15 and 4/16. The movie's premiere will coincide with the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in San Antonio, TX from June 29-July 2, 2008.

Labels: Biome, GLEF, HP Leadership Grant, NECC 2008, SIW

Fifth graders became teachers to the fourth graders as they hosted the Saugus Iron Works showcase on Friday, June 1st in the Ferrway lobby. The event was designed to bring together four major initiatives;

1. The Saugus Iron Works PBU implementation
2. Pilot-testing of the Biome Breakthrough PBU
3. YWCA High School multimedia program.
4. HP Leadership Grant

The Ferryway HP Leadership team worked with administrators, teachers, and students to create an event that would highlight how wireless tablet computing is used to promote a 21st century learning environment. At the rocks and minerals station students showed fourth graders how to conduct a mineral test and navigate websites to find mineral pictures. The simple machines station featured models built from K'nex toys, computer simulations and student inventions. Students in Mr. Teixeira's fifth grade English Language Learner's (ELL) class used tablets and a projector to teach about the world's biomes through a series of animated PowerPoints. After spending about 45 minutes visiting different stations fourth graders used the tablets to complete an online survey developed by the YWCA High School girls on what they had learned. We would like to thank Ms. Prince and Ms. Wasson for coordinating the G4 survey.

Labels: Biome, HP Leadership Grant, SIW, tablet computers