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Pennsbury School District While at the Edgewood Elementary School (Pennsbury School District) in early October 2000, we dropped in on Kathy Porreca's computer classroom where she engages K-5 students in explorations with computer technology. Although she had a math class in session, she found time to describe the types of work that students do in her classroom, and to give us an idea of how a computer lab instructor can provide support for inquiry projects in classrooms throughout the school.
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Since we had just visited third grade classes working
on STC's Plant Growth and Development kit (
Besides teaching basic computer literacy, she designs
learning experiences to build on the strengths of
each student. In this second grade math class, some
of the students needed help using the computer,
others struggled with arithmetic concepts as Kathy
circulated and offered the needed type of support to
each. Even as she orchestrated the students'
progress and technical savvy, the phone rang with
teachers seeking assistance with their own
technological challenges.
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As individual work proceeded, Kathy showed us
examples of the rich interdisciplinary experiences
computers will afford the science classes as they
increasingly integrate efforts with hers. There are
data to record and organize, charts and graphs to
design that best display that data, pictures to
incorporate and multiple drafts of reports to
produce. There are also on-line sources of
information to consult, stories and poetry to read,
and in the future, other classes with which to share
data and ideas. Learning and sharing are expanding
rapidly beyond traditional boundaries led by this
sort of teamwork.
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In addition to guiding students in the uses of
computer technology, Kathy is involved in helping her
fellow teachers figure out how best to integrate her
efforts with theirs. She joins Kay and Toni as they
offer district in-service programs focussed on the
use of kits and computers to support classroom
inquiry.
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