Technology – KPBSD Communications Field Notes

Tsalteshi Trails Story Mapping and App Project

Skyview Middle School eighth grade students in Sheilah-Margaret Pothast’s classes took to the Tsalteshi Trails to learn about GIS (Geographic Information Systems), use GPS to map a new trail, build a mobile app, and provide research for a story map now posted on the Kenai Peninsula Borough website.

Mrs. Pothast explains, “My first and second hour eighth grade American History classes participated in much of the research “grunt work” guided by our outstanding adult volunteers. Many of the ideas for direct links, etc. that you’ll see in the product are ideas the kids recommended. Our adult volunteers contributed the expertise in their respective fields as well as the actual technical construction of the map. Students worked with adults to add attributes to the app and worked in teams led by the adults to develop the basic content ideas for each tab. Students are seeing the work for the first time and loving it! They are also already thinking of ways to improve it. This has been a wonderful learning experience for all of us, and one I look forward to continuing in the future. Many thanks to our adult volunteers without whom this would not have been possible.”

Thank you to the SMS staff, and amazing community partners and volunteers who did so much with our students, including: Bobbi Lay and Celina Robinson – KPB GIS Department; Nancy Carver – KPB Kenai River Center; Austin Johnson, City of Soldotna; Stephanie Queen – City of Soldotna Economic Development & Planning; Branden Bornemann – Kenai Watershed Forum GIS Specialist; Mark Laker – Kenai Wildlife Refuge Ecologist; and Bill Holt, Tsalteshi Trails Maintenance Manager extraordinaire.
Link: Tsalteshi Trail System

10K benefits Seward Elementary classroom instruction

$10,000 Worth of Gifts Arrive at Seward Elementary
The gifts have arrived, and teachers at Seward Elementary School are very excited about integrating all the new equipment into their lessons. After receiving a $10,000 gift for computer hardware from the education non-profit organization, Code.Org, teachers selected items that would enhance classroom instruction, especially S.T.E.M. lessons. For example, the new 3D printer by MakerBot will allow students to engineer tangible solutions to simple real-world problems, design their fix in SketchUp, then print the object out!

Third grade teachers are thrilled to have 28 new Chromebooks for their students. These are a cross between a notebook and a laptop, and they run without fans—allowing for stackable storage. The Chromebooks use Google for education applications, which KPBSD supports for all teachers and students.
“The third grade classes are looking forward to using the Chromebooks,” said Erin Flowers, a third grade teacher. “These devices will provide extra opportunities for our students to prepare for AMP tests, improve fluency in reading and math, as well as provide the technological foundation required for continuous improvement in technology skills.”
Excitement stems from the possibilities that the new web cameras give each teacher, too. Leigh Ray, a second grade teacher, explained how websites such as www.epals.com allow teachers to connect with other classrooms around the globe—making contact based on age, academic unit of study, or other similar purposes.
Several other items rounded out the gifts received, including mp3 players, a new digital projector, and document cameras. With these new tools, students at Seward Elementary are definitely receiving a leading-edge, twenty-first century education.
Many thanks to Hadi Partovi, the CEO and co-founder of the education non-profit Code.org, for having the vision to bring computer science to every student in the United States, for instituting the now-famous Hour of Code, and for gifting Seward Elementary School with $10,000 of computer hardware.
Story contributed by David Kingsland, principal, Seward Elementary

From Constantinople to Kenai: Classroom Without Walls, October 19

What do Constantinople and Kenai have in common?
To answer this question, embark on a journey into Russia’s past, live from Kenai, Alaska, with Classroom Without Walls.

Three KPBSD high school world history teachers collaborate in Classroom Without Walls, offering innovative world history learning to 350 students from Kenai Central High School, Soldotna High School, and Skyview High School.

Wednesday, October 19, you’re invited to the From Constantinople to Kenai session when a lesson will be presented live from The Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai, Alaska. Parents and community members are welcome.

From Constantinople to Kenai will take students on a journey from the beginning of Russia to the connection in Kenai, Alaska, and the Russian orthodox church. Students and community members will:

Meet Rurik, a Varangian prince who was the leader of the Rus
Princess Olga of Kiev later to be Sainted
Two Greeks who developed the Russian alphabet
Prince Vladimir who made Orthodoxy the official religion of the Rus
and more…

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
World History teacher Gregory Weissenberg from Soldotna High School will present From Constantinople to Kenai six times from The Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai, Alaska. There is no cost, everyone is welcome.
CWOW times: 7:55 – 8:35; 8:50 – 9:35; 10:15 – 10:55; 11:10 – 11:50; 12:39 – 1:19; and 1:35 – 2:15
Students will be in their classes at the three local high schools.

“Our kids have 3 World History teachers–we don’t know that any other students in the nation can say that, and between the 3 of us we make one good teacher.” — Rob Sparks (Skyview), Gregory Weissenberg (SoHi), Greg Zorbas (KCHS)

Making public education public, Bon Voyage!

Link
“Texting, blogging and streaming history: 3 teachers use technology to break down walls” story, Peninsula Clarion, March 5, 2010