We now have 10 refurbished e-Macs that are as powerful as iMacs, 3 new iMac G5s, and 5 ibooks. They are all wonderful...packed with goodies! Each has the capabilities of running iMovie, iPhoto, iMusic and iDVD (4 excellent programs for ultimate audio and video). All of the Macs are running different versions of Mac OS X. We were very blessed in the 2004-2005 school year to have one of the e-Macs donated by a family from our school. We are also fortunate to have the opportunity to purchase computers from our "pizza" fund-raising proceeds. For every computer that we add to the lab, one of the eMacs will be given to a classroom. In this way we can stay current with technology. During the summer of 2007, several eMacs were moved to classrooms prior to school beginning in the fall ('07-'08). This winter we will also be purchasing more projectors, wireless tablets, and smart boards for classroom use.

We are very pleased with our Technology program that has included the building of a new computer lab, wiring the school for access to the Internet, buying wireless tablets for classroom use, buying projectors for classroom use, automating the library, and purchasing site licenses for a grading program and MS Office (WORD, Excel and PowerPoint).

The students in 7th and 8th grade, each year, create some excellent PowerPoint presentations. They also learn the skill of putting together a good spreadsheet using Excel.

During the school year of 2004-2005, the 7th and 8th graders also got a taste of working with a new program by Apple called "GarageBand." It's an outstanding program that has received awards for its excellence. With GarageBand, students can create their own music by selecting instruments and assigning an instrument to each track. They can then edit the tracks and put the sounds together (mix) to create their own song. The songs can then be imported into iTunes. From iTunes they can be burned onto CD's or uploaded into an iPod. Wow!

Students are also learning their keyboarding skills, with heavy emphasis on keyboarding in grades 3 and 4 in order to develop a good habit of using the "home row keys." In grades 5 and 6 we expand the keyboarding skills by improving accuracy and speed in using punctuation keys, percent, dollar sign, parenthesis, upper-case letters, etc. We also like to encourage students to practice their keyboarding at home by using their computer and a good keyboarding program.

Every classroom comes to visit the lab once per week, with Mr. Kangas and Mrs. Drevlow as the computer lab teachers. The following graded list is a brief description of the emphasis at each grade level followed by a list of the software that can be used at each grade level:

Kindergarten and First Grade:

• use of the mouse to skillfully move within a program,
• use of special keys on the keyboard, such as space bar, arrows, return key and delete.
• identify essential hardware terms (monitor, keyboard,
  mouse, CD drive, printer).
• following directions on simple menus, realizing that each program
  has its own specific commands, buttons, and instructions that are unique
• work and share the computer, showing respect to classmates,
  speaking politely, and following directions.
• use programs for word recognition, simple graphics, simple math computation,
  simple word processing, and visual discrimination:

  The following software programs are used by Kindergarten and First Grades:

• "Living Books" (stories at the computer)
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - graphics
• "Math Workshop" - visual discrimination and math
• "I Spy" - visual discrimination
• "Miss Spider" - visual discrimination

Second Grade:

• use of the mouse to skillfully move within a program,
• use of special keys on the keyboard, such as space bar, arrows, return key, delete,
  tab, number keys, shift, and caps lock
• identify essential hardware terms (monitor, keyboard,
  mouse, CD drive, printer and hard drive)
• following directions on simple menus, realizing that each program
  has its own specific commands, buttons, and instructions that are unique
• following specific instructions for closing out of a program
• work and share the computer, showing respect to classmates,
  speaking politely, and following directions.
• use programs for word recognition, simple graphics, simple math computation,
  simple word processing, and visual discrimination:

  The following software programs are used by our Second Graders:

• "Living Books" (stories at the computer)
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - graphics
• "Math Workshop" - visual discrimination and math
• "I Spy" - visual discrimination
• "MS WORD" for simple word processing
• "Reading Blaster 2000" - reading
• "Buzz Lightyear (2nd grade) - math and reading
• "Miss Spider" - visual discrimination
• "Thinkin' Things" - logical thinking
• Accelerated Reading testing (STAR)

Third Grade:

• locate home row keys and type small paragraphs
• identify the use of peripherals that are added to computer hardware such as microphone,
  headsets, speakers, scanners, digital cameras, etc.
• save files, load files, "replace" saved files and know the importance of all three processes
• use programs for word processing, graphics design, math computation, simulation
  and keyboarding.

  The following software programs are used by our Third Graders:

• "MS WORD" - simple word processing
• "Sim Town" - planning a town on the computer
• "Jump Start Type" - beginning stages of keyboarding
• "Oregon Trail" - used when they study that subject in class
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - graphics
• "I SPY" - design your own I SPY
• "Math Workshop"
• "Ice Cream Truck" - math, money, decision making
• "Thinkin' Things" - logical thinking
• Accelerated Reader Testing (STAR)

Fourth Grade:

• locate home row keys, and top row keys, and be able to type short stories
• identify the use of peripherals that are added to computer hardware such as microphone,
  headsets, speakers, scanners, digital cameras, etc.
• recognize some of the terminology that is unique to the functionality
  of the computer: Mhz, MB, GB, RAM, etc.
• save files, load files, "replace" saved files and know the importance of all three processes
• word processing that includes highlighting text, spell check, selecting fonts,
  inserting text, and printing
• follow instructions in order to print to the networked printer
  and be skilled in using the spell check before printing
• use programs for word processing, graphics design, math computation, problem solving,
  simulation, reading comprehension, literature, research and keyboarding.

  The following software programs are used by our Fourth Graders:

• "Sim Town" - planning a town on the computer
• "Jump Start Type" - keyboarding continued
• "Zoombini Mtn. Rescue" - problem solving, logical thinking
• "I SPY"
• "I SPY Fantasy"
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - graphics, create "slideshow"
• "Oregon Trail 5" - Simulation
• "MS WORD" - word processing
• "Thinkin' Things" - logical thinking
• "Ice Cream Truck" - math, money, decision making
• Accelerated Reader Testing (STAR)

Fifth Grade

• be familiar with the entire keyboard and be able to type short stories or reports
• "AOL@SCHOOL" - beginning stages of using the Internet
• Internet Driver's License - a program for introducing safety on the Internet (All students and parents of 5th graders sign the "Internet Use Agreement" which is in force until they graduate from 8th grade).
• demonstrate proper use of the Internet at Zion Lutheran School as outlined in our Use Agreement
• conduct Internet research on their USA projects
• learn the correct way to give credit to an author on the Internet in a report's bibliography.
• save files, load files, "replace" saved files and know the importance of all three processes
• word processing that includes highlighting text, spell check, selecting fonts,
  inserting text, and printing
• follow instructions in order to print to the networked printer
  and be skilled in using the spell check before printing
• contribute to classroom discussions about careers that are shaped and dependent upon technology
  and its effect on our futures
• contribute to classroom discussions about the history of computers
• contribute to classroom discussions about the misuse of computers as demonstrated by the spread of computer viruses,
  misuse of copyright laws, etc.
• use programs for Internet research, word processing, graphics design, math computation, problem solving,
  simulation, reading comprehension, literature, research and keyboarding.

  The following software programs are used by our Fifth Graders:

• "MS WORD" - word processing
• "Jump Start Type" - keyboarding continued
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - use of graphics tool editor to create personalized holiday "stamps"
• "AOL@SCHOOL" - for Internet research
• "Sim Town"
• "I SPY Fantasy"
• "Oregon Trail 5"
• "Zoombinis Mountain Rescue" - logical thinking
• "Thinkin' Things" - logical thinking
• "Ice Cream Truck" - math, money and decision making
• Accelerated Reader Testing (STAR)

Sixth Grade:

• be familiar with the entire keyboard and be able to type short stories or reports
• use the Internet for research while working on science projects for the Science Fair
  and develop a better understanding of the use of "search engines"
• demonstrate proper use of the Internet at Zion Lutheran School as outlined in our Use Agreement
• save files, load files, "replace" saved files and know the importance of all three processes
• word processing that includes highlighting text, spell check, selecting fonts,
  inserting text, and printing. Introduce columns, headers,
  footers, date & page numbers, and preview printing options as needed.
• follow instructions in order to print to the networked printer
  and be skilled in using the spell check before printing
• use a graphics program for Drawing and Painting and complete step-by-step directions to complete several
  lab projects
• use a multimedia program to create a sequence of cards containing graphics, text and links.
• contribute to classroom discussions about careers that are shaped and dependent upon technology
  and its effect on our futures
• contribute to classroom discussions about the history of computers
• contribute to classroom discussions about the misuse of computers as demonstrated by the spread of computer viruses,
  misuse of copyright laws, etc.
• learn the correct way to give credit to an author on the Internet in a report's bibliography
• use programs for Internet research, word processing, graphics design, math computation, problem solving,
  multimedia, simulation, reading comprehension, literature, research and keyboarding.

  The following software programs are used by our Sixth Graders:

• "MS WORD" - word processing, use of WORD ART and digital photos
• "Jump Start Type" - keyboarding continued
• "AOL@SCHOOL" - Internet research on science projects
• "I SPY Fantasy"
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - use of graphics tool editor to create personalized holiday "stamps"
• "Zoombinis Mountain Rescue - logical thinking
• "Oregon Trail 5"
• "Ice Cream Truck" - math, money, and decision making
• "Thinkin Things" - logical thinking
• Accelerated Reader Testing (STAR)

Seventh Grade:

• use several spreadsheet programs in order to become familiar with the "creation of" and "use of" spreadsheets
• be familiar with the entire keyboard and be able to type stories or reports
• use the Internet for research while working on science projects for the Science Fair
  history projects or writing assignments as designated by the classroom teacher
• learn the correct way to give credit to an author on the Internet in a report's bibliography as well
  as credit in a PowerPoint presentation
• use the Internet to research a topic that can be presented to the class by using PowerPoint
• save files, load files, "replace" saved files and know the importance of all three processes
• word processing that includes highlighting text, spell check, selecting fonts,
  inserting text, and printing. Review columns, headers,
  footers, date & page numbers, and preview printing options
• follow instructions in order to print to the networked printer
  and be skilled in using the spell check before printing
• demonstrate proper use of the Internet at Zion Lutheran School as outlined in our Use Agreement
• contribute to classroom discussions about careers that are shaped and dependent upon technology
  and its effect on our futures
• contribute to classroom discussions about the history of computers
• contribute to classroom discussions about the misuse of computers as demonstrated by the spread of computer viruses,
  misuse of copyright laws, etc.
• use programs for Internet research, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, graphics design, math computation, problem solving,
  multimedia, simulation, reading comprehension, literature, research and keyboarding.

  The following software programs are used by our Seventh Graders:

• "EXCEL" - spreadsheet program
• "MS WORD" and "Appleworks" - word processing
• "PowerPoint" - presentation software
• "Jump Start Type" - keyboarding continued
• "I SPY Treasure Hunt"
• "AOL@SCHOOL" - Internet research for science projects & PowerPoint presentations
• "iPhoto" - projects using digital photos and text
• "iMovie" - projects that involve editing digital movies
• "GarageBand"
• "Kid Pix Deluxe 3" - use of graphics tool editor to create personalized holiday "stamps"
• "Zoombinis Mountain Rescue" - logical thinking
• "Oregon Trail 5"
• "Thinkin' Things" - logical thinking
• Accelerated Reader testing (STAR)

Eighth Grade:

• complete one quarter of a "Start Your Own Business" project - which includes business letters,
  letterheads, business cards, graphics, creative writing, creating a web page, and a spreadsheet inventory.
• be familiar with the entire keyboard and be able to type stories or reports
• use the Internet for research while working on science projects for the Science Fair
  or history projects as designated by the classroom teacher
• use the Internet to research a topic that can be presented to the class by using PowerPoint
• save files, load files, "replace" saved files and know the importance of all three processes
• word processing that includes highlighting text, spell check, selecting fonts,
  inserting text, and printing. Review columns, headers,
  footers, date & page numbers, and preview printing options
• follow instructions in order to print to the networked printer
  and be skilled in using the spell check before printing
• demonstrate proper use of the Internet at Zion Lutheran School as outlined in our Use Agreement
• contribute to classroom discussions about careers that are shaped and dependent upon technology
  and its effect on our futures
• contribute to classroom discussions about the history of computers
• contribute to classroom discussions about the misuse of computers as demonstrated by the spread of computer viruses,
  misuse of copyright laws, etc.
• learn the correct way to give credit to an author on the Internet in a report's bibliography as well
  as credit in a PowerPoint presentation
• use programs for Internet research, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics design, math computation, problem solving,
  multimedia, simulation, reading comprehension, literature, research and keyboarding.

  The following software programs are used by our Eighth Graders:

• "EXCEL" - spreadsheet program
• "The Cruncher" - spreadsheet tutorial
• "MS WORD" and "Appleworks" - word processing
• "PowerPoint" - presentation software
• "AOL@SCHOOL" - Internet research for science projects & PowerPoint presentations
• "iPhoto" - projects using digital photos and text
• "iMovie" - projects that involve editing digital movies
• "GarageBand"
• "I SPY Treasure Hunt"
• "Zoombinis Mountain Rescue" - logical thinking
• "Oregon Trail 5"
• Accelerated Reader Testing (STAR)

A special word of thanks to all of the parents who have participated over the years to support the technology project. The wiring was accomplished by volunteers, the building of the lab was accomplished by a member of the congregation, financial support has been provided by the budget of the church and school, and more financial support from volunteer parents who help fund raise for the project during our "Faculty Follies." A big thanks to all of the teachers and administrators who come out, as well, in support of technology.