Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.

1. Which grades come to the computer lab?
2. At which grade do you start teaching keyboarding?
3. What are QuickPADs?
4. What were you able to purchase from the computer lab fundraiser?
5. What applications do the students learn how to use?
6. At which grade can the students use the Internet?

Which grades come to the computer lab?

All students in grades K-8 use the computer labs.  Grades K-4 come to 
the lab each week for 30 minutes with Mrs. Drevlow.  Grades 5-8 come to the lab for 45 
minutes each week with Mr. Kangas.

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At which grade do you start teaching keyboarding?

We begin the formal teaching of keyboarding in the 3rd grade, however 
the 2nd graders are introduced to keyboarding in their classroom when 
they use the portable QuickPADs.

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What are QuickPADs?

QuickPADs are battery operated, lightweight, portable keyboards that 
have a built in memory and can store pages of material that the 
students type.  After the students type a story, for example, they can 
"send" their story to their teacher's computer (wirelessly) and have the 
teacher print a copy.  It is a great way to have an entire class become 
involved in the writing process, in a fun way!

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What were you able to purchase from the computer lab fundraiser?

We have a fundraiser entitled Pizza Thursdays.  From the fundraiser we 
have been able to purchase new eMacs and iMacs for the lab as well as 
Tungsten E2 palm pilots and wireless keyboards.  It is a wonderful 
opportunity for us to add new equipment.

Just recently we were able to purchase a new 30GB Video iPod for the school.  This 
is a wonderful little educational tool that enables us to load videos that we have downloaded
from unitedstreaming.com onto the iPod device and then hook it up to a projector for 
viewing in a classroom.  We are excited about the potential of these little teaching tools.   

Watch for more information regarding Pizza Thursdays.  The first two 
months help to fund the 6th grade field trip on the Pilgrim.  After the first 
two months, the proceeds are applied to new equipment in the 
computer labs.

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What applications do the students learn how to use?

When the students are in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, they are exposed 
to some of the important applications that can be used by both the Mac 
and the PC.  They learn how to use Microsoft WORD, Excel and 
PowerPoint, to name a few.  They also are able to use some of the 
popular Mac applications such as iPhoto, and iMovie.  Prior to the 6th 
grade the students use programs to develop keyboarding, writing, and 
math skills.  These educational programs are used in conjunction with 
some of their classroom projects.  In the fifth grade, for example, the 
students learn how to use the Internet in order to help them prepare 
their USA report on one of the states.  They learn good Internet research 
techniques.

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At which grade can the students use the Internet?

The students in fifth grade take a form home that is called the "Internet 
Use Agreement."   The paperwork needs to be read by the student and 
the parents and signed by both before it is returned.  This enables the 
student to use the Internet in the lab beyond the designated 45 minutes 
that their class uses the lab.  They can sign up for available times 
during the week to do research for their classroom assignments.  The 
lab can only be used if the student has permission from their teacher 
and using the Internet for classroom purposes.  Safety on the Internet 
is very important.  The students are supervised in the lab and are 
assisted in their research of a topic.  They can also, at that time, print out 
material for their projects on the lab printers.

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