The following is an edited press release from the Fair Haven School District:
The Fair Haven School District gave parents an opportunity to get some hands-on experience with Google Apps for the Classroom.
Parents gathered at the Media Center of Knollwood School on Dec. 2 for the fourth event in a series of several planned by the district’s new Fair Haven Family Institute. The Institute was created to relay information to parents on initiatives undertaken throughout each year in the district.
As part of the Go Google! event, parents received hands-on experience with the capabilities of Google Apps for the Classroom. The program was hosted by Ellen Spears, district director of Curriculum, as well as Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy, Knollwood School Principal Kevin Davis, and district supervisor of Instructional Programs and Support Kathy Elgrim.
“There is a host of truly rich features that Google Apps for the Classroom provides for students and teachers, including unheralded opportunities for collaboration,” Spears told the parents in attendance. “Everything is transparent and easily accessible.”
After a presentation on the many ways in which “learning has gone Google,” the parents worked in teams to complete a Treasure Hunt Challenge.
The Challenge included pasting a “selfie” photo into a shared slide presentation, creating and displaying a QR code with an embedded message, writing and sharing a document with two questions about the use of Google technology, and “handing in” their team’s assignment.
The Treasure Hunt Challenge was completed successfully by all of the teams, and Davis — demonstrating how fast and easy it is to share documents and collaborate using Google technology — followed up by answering the questions included in the submitted assignments.
He noted that the district’s teaching staff underwent intensive training on Google Apps for the Classroom during the summer of 2014, and Lunchtime Learning Sessions for faculty members are hosted on a regular basis by Technology Support Technician Pauline Clark.
Fair Haven students in first through eighth grades have access to individual Google accounts and chrome books. Kindergarten and first grade students primarily use iPads and desktops to enhance their usage of technology integration.
Parents can access Google apps at home on their personal Gmail accounts or when they log in with their children’s accounts. In addition, many teachers opt to organize classroom apps on programs like Symbaloo so that all apps are easily organized and retrieved regardless of the person logged into the Gmail account.
Carts of Chromebooks are available in every eighth grade classroom. Carts of Chromebooks are shared among students and teachers at the fourth through seventh grade levels.
Every student at Knollwood School has a Google account, and many teachers and students are using Google Classroom to submit assignments and to collect student work.
The Google Apps for Education allow students to access their work anywhere and at any time. It allows for easier and real-time collaboration among students and teachers.
The next planned event is a Family Literacy Night on Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Sickles School. Parents and children will attend together to explore best practices in reading and actively engage in a fun family evening.
Future events will address Standards for Mathematical Practice, Cyber Safety, Math Game Night and a Tech “Playdate” for Families.