I realize I possess a multicolored tool bag filled with an array of objects and experiences. The colors reflect the wide spectrum and are always filled with rays of sunshine. One of those is teaching technology to kindergarten through third-grade students. The term technology takes on many forms, definitions, and ideas. Nowadays when one says technology I believe we all imagine the internet or the world wide web, or even. . . the ubiquitous iPhone.
The program I taught was an after-school enrichment program with the City of Decatur inside the City Schools of Decatur in Georgia. This is a pretty amazing area to work in, its schools are well funded, well supplied and were once really diverse. The schools have great parent involvement and incredibly dedicated teachers with a supportive administration. I had the pleasure of teaching technology after school from 2010 - 2014. During that time there was a wonderful amount of autonomy to design your program the way that fit your students.
I taught everything from digital drawing, digital photography, digital video and editing. My students created videos on climate change and living "green" with a Green Screen and then dropped in the background of their choice from their online searches. Our equipment was mostly Apple. The students had access to MacBooks and iPads. I used and got them involved in the Promethean Board for instruction as well. I think my favorite part was introducing a lesson and then letting them go to create as they saw fit. Seeing their imaginations fly. . . that has to be the most colorful tool I have ever seen.
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| One of the first week's lessons includes a scavenger hunt of sorts. Students have to identity the objects with their corresponding letter and then match what its purpose is. |
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First-grade students sharing their ideas about the uses and purposes for the equipment in front of them. Each class lasted for an hour and a half. Originally designed to accommodate two groups rotating in and out of class, but eventually there were students who were committed to their projects and loved coming so they would stay the entire time. They were allowed to leave if they chose and to have breaks. |