Tech Focus

Please contact Jennifer Bellinger-Sipes, Tech Focus producer, jsipes@usd259.net or 973-2089, if you have innovative technology stories from your school. We'd love to highlight your class activity!

Tech Focus - May 2008 Edition

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A look at television productions at Mueller Elementary, Brooks Middle Magnet and Northwest High School; a music composition project at Colvin Elementary; voting buttons in Outlook; and terrific websites to help keep kids engaged over the summer.

TV Broadcasts in Schools Voting in Outlook

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Writing Music on Computer Summer Website Fun

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Tech Focus: April 2008 Edition
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This month’s Tech Focus looks at the district’s new automated calling system, ParentLink, and shows how teachers are using the web-based application BlackBoard with their students. We also get tips on handling attachments in Outlook and creating safe user names and passwords.

ParentLink Calling System Blackboard

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Outlook Attachments Creating Passwords
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Tech Focus: February 2008 Edition
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On this episode of Tech Focus, we see how iPods are used in classrooms at PV Elementary, Robinson, and PV Middle School, and learn about technology at Levy Special Education Center. We also learn how to organize favorites and view history in Internet Explorer.

iPods in Classrooms Tech at Levy Special Ed. Cntr.

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Organizing Internet Favorites View HISTORY in Internet Explorer

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Tech Focus: January 2008 Edition

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This month, we learn about podcasting in the classroom from North High and L'Ouverture Computer Technology Magnet Elementary, see how one school is preparing for a robotics competition, learn some handy keyboard shortcuts, and learn about cyberbullying.

Podcasting in Schools                                   Robotics Projects
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Tech Tip- Keyboard Shortcuts                       Cyberbullying

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Tech Focus - December Episode
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This episode of Tech Focus looks at how teachers are using blogging in the classroom, and how technology is used to teach ESOL classes. We also learn how to work with graphics in Word, and visit North High school to talk to students about social networking.

Blogging in the Classroom Graphics in Word

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Technology in ESOL Classes Tips on Social Networking

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Tech Focus - November Episode
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In this month’s episode, we learn how student response systems, or clickers, are being used in classrooms, and visit some P.E. classes that are using GPS technology to keep kids active. We also learn how to search for specific filetypes in Google and get some online shopping tips just in time for the holidays.

Clickers in the Classroom                            GPS in P.E.
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Exploring in Google                                    Holiday Online Shopping Tips
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Tech Focus - October Episode
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This month, we learn how Airliners are being used in the classroom, and take a look at technology in a driver’s education class. Plus, we share some tips for organizing data in Excel and visit some more educational websites for students of all ages.

Airliners in the Classroom                      Driver's Education Technology
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Excel Organization                                Websites For Education
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Tech Focus - September

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We look at how SmartBoards are being used to engage students in lessons from Pre-K to high school, learn how to create an email signature in Outlook, check out some homework help websites, and see how an art teacher at Colvin Elementary is using technology in an after-school art program.

Tech Focus - August Premiere

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Schoolhouse 20's new technology show kicks off with a look at USD259's new Interactive Distance Learning Labs. We also visit Pleasant Valley Elementary to see how technology is used in the Classroom City Project, learn an easy way to make a photo album in Powerpoint, and learn about the Wichita Public Schools internet policy. Hosted by Marcia Jeans of the district's Instructional Technology Department, with special segments by Robin Surland and Cammy Todd.

Please contact Jennifer Bellinger-Sipes, Tech Focus producer, jsipes@usd259.net or 973-2089, if you have innovative technology stories from your school. We'd love to highlight your class activity!