Portland St. Patrick Catholic School

Technology in the classroom is no longer a new concept for schools.  Computers have become such an integral part of our society that their use in the classroom has become even more important.  The focus is no longer just teaching students how to use the technology, but has evolved into integrating the technology into everyday usage in the classroom itself.  Some of the advantages of doing this are:

•    Technology reaches those students who may not perform well in a traditional educational environment.

•    Children are motivated and excited by multimedia.

•    Active students can creatively apply their energy to multimedia projects and presentations.

•    Educators better prepare students for the future when using technology aimed at addressing multiple intelligences or the different learning styles.

Teachers who embrace technology in the classroom find that it can be a marvelous teaching tool.  According to Dr. C. Terry Morrow, Professor of Agricultural Engineering and Faculty Fellow with the Center for Academic Computing of Penn State University, digital technology:

•    Improves lectures

•    Enhances the curriculum

•    Provides visualization in a variety of formats

•    Increases flexibility of presentations

•    Allows educators to share resources

•    Enables demonstrations of complex concepts.

We have been working hard to upgrade hardware and software at St. Patrick School.  We purchased new laptop computers this year for the teaching staff.  We are working to purchase new multimedia video projectors for each classroom, and are about half way to our goal.  Approximately half our classrooms have had projectors purchased or donated and the equipment is being used constantly.  We have also purchased three document cameras and will continue to purchase more in the near future.

Another of our goals is to keep our two computer labs up to date.  We plan to replace the computers in one lab next year, and will distribute the older computers to various classrooms for students to use.  We are also in the process of purchasing a portable wireless laptop computer lab that can be moved from classroom to classroom.  Our goal is to have two of these labs which can be used in conjunction with the wireless internet that we now have throughout the building.  We are very grateful for a donation from our IT specialist Mr. Ross Schneider.  His donation puts us closer to our goals.

All of the students at St. Pat’s School use this technology.  Students in preschool, developmental kindergarten, and kindergarten are introduced to computers through learning centers.  Students in grades kindergarten through five have computer class once a week.  Students in the 6th grade have computer class twice a week and 7th and 8th grade students have class daily for one semester.  All ninth grade students take one semester of computers their freshmen year and sophomores have a semester of an online computer course.  

Finally, students are able to apply what they have learned by using the technology to make presentations, do research, create projects, collect, monitor and assess data, and to enhance communication.  The staff continues to enhance our student’s educational experience by using technology in the ways suggested by Dr. Morrow.

St. Patrick School will continue to make sure we integrate the latest technology into our classrooms.  It is important that our students are tech savvy when they graduate and are prepared to enter the 21st century workplace.