| SchoolNet
slated for fall arrival at elementary schools!
SchoolNet
continues to power forward! You may recall that secondary school teachers
had access to the innovative technology at the start of last school
year. Now, SchoolNet is set to roll out for elementary school teachers
this coming fall.
One outstanding
feature of SchoolNet is that it houses critical student data in a central
location. For example, standardized achievement information (for elementary
students: SOL, local assessment data, DRA, Stanford 10, and more), student
achievement profiles, attendance and discipline records, and historical
student information – all are available at the click of a mouse.
In addition, SchoolNet serves as an invaluable electronic teacher resource
by providing online access to curriculum guides (in lieu of inches-thick
binders for elementary teachers, K-5), from any computer with an Internet
connection.
Since January,
elementary school teachers of core subjects from across the city have
been “test driving” the innovative technology. As director
of elementary instructional services Marie Balen points
out, “The SchoolNet test drivers have been extremely helpful.
They have been working with the various elements of the technology for
several months. As a result, they provided valuable feedback on what
they found especially beneficial, and they made suggestions for areas
needing additional revision.”
We thought
you might find it interesting to learn what several elementary school
test drivers think about SchoolNet. Read what they have to say about
this one-stop-shop for student information and teaching resources.
Test
Drivers:
Sara Chiaverotti (left) and Lauren Collins (right)
John B. Dey Elementary School
1.
What is your current teaching assignment?
Sara Chiaverotti, fifth-grade teacher
Lauren Collins, kindergarten teacher
2.
What SchoolNet training did you receive? Do you feel comfortable using
the technology following your training?
There were two of us from John B. Dey Elementary who were part of this
training and both of us feel comfortable using the components of SchoolNet
with the directions in front of us. The training was sufficient as an
introduction to the components of SchoolNet. We feel it would be great
to have follow-up, differentiated training for all teachers. For example,
provide one training specifically for Web page design; another, for
lesson planning. Teachers would benefit from choosing what follow-up
training they would like to attend first, following the introduction
to SchoolNet. In other words, give teachers time to become comfortable
with using one component at a time.
3.
If you have technical questions about SchoolNet, who is available to assist you?
Currently, no one in our building. We are the first to have had the
training.
4.
How do you like the teacher Web page? Are you using it?
We love it! We use it!
5.
What feature(s) of SchoolNet do you like best? Why?
The Web page because it is easy to navigate.
6.
What is the most helpful feature of SchoolNet to a busy teacher?
The most helpful feature of SchoolNet will be having all pieces of a
student’s record in one place. Teachers will be able to see grades
from previous years, PALS scores, DRA levels etc.
7.
Is there any advice you would offer to fellow teachers regarding SchoolNet?
Ease into learning the components. Give yourself time to make the components
work for you.
Test
Driver:
Emily Bellamy, Three Oaks Elementary School
1.
What is your current teaching assignment?
I teach second grade at Three Oaks Elementary School.
2.
What SchoolNet training did you receive? Do you feel comfortable using
the technology following your training?
I attended a half-day workshop with instructor Jeff Coe, senior education
solutions specialist. He was very patient and walked us through each
and every level of SchoolNet. After the training I felt I needed more
time to explore on my own and see what questions came up. I do not consider
myself to be comfortable with the computer so I was a little anxious
at first.
3.
If you have technical questions about SchoolNet, who is available to
assist you?
We were invited to a follow-up meeting about two months after our initial
training. That was very helpful because many of my initial questions
were answered. There will also be two SchoolNet trainers in my building
if I have any questions. Sue Crosland and other downtown personnel said
we could contact them with questions we might have.
4.
How do you like the teacher Web page? Are you using it?
I have not used the Teacher Web page yet. I am hoping to have time this
summer to explore more as there is so much to offer on SchoolNet.
5.
What feature(s) of SchoolNet do you like best? Why?
I
recently had a Student Support meeting and I was able to pull up SchoolNet
and see the child’s complete school history including grades and
attendance. This was so convenient!
6.
What is the most helpful feature of SchoolNet to a busy teacher?
There are so many features that it is hard to select one. I look forward
to using the Instructional Planner and Materials. I also like the feature
that will allow the teacher to create small groups based on test scores.
7.
Is there any advice you would offer to fellow teachers regarding SchoolNet?
Slow and steady will be my theme. I will use as much as I am comfortable
with at first and add a little more with time. This is a very valuable
tool that has been created to make our jobs easier. I would encourage
everyone to give it a try and once you do, you will be hooked. I am
all for anything that will cut down on my use of time and paperwork!
Test Driver:
Dafney R. Fahie, Birdneck Elementary School
1. What is your current teaching assignment?
Third Grade Language Arts Teacher, Birdneck Elementary School
2. What SchoolNet training did you receive?
Do you feel comfortable using the technology following your training?
I received a half day of SchoolNet training and felt comfortable using
it after the training. The information given at the training was very
thorough. We also had a chance to work through every section of SchoolNet
and had some time for free exploration.
3.
If you have technical questions about SchoolNet, who is available to
assist you?
If I have technical questions about SchoolNet, I can ask my CRS or I
can
e-mail one of the trainers.
4. How do you like the teacher Web page?
Are you using it?
I like having the teacher Web page to keep my parents and students updated
about what I am doing in the classroom. I use my Web page to post homework
for the week, upcoming events, SOL Web sites for practice, and any information
that I feel would be helpful to my parents and students.
5. What feature(s) of SchoolNet do you
like best? Why?
I like the “Align” section where I can view my students’
records. This feature saves time when I have to prepare paperwork for
the Student Support Team or Student Educational Committee meetings.
Normally, I would have to walk to the cumulative record room to get
the student’s cumulative record and then record the information
needed for the paperwork. With the records section of SchoolNet, I can
just click on the student’s name and find the information. I can
see what grades, behaviors, and testing my students have taken and evaluate
their performance.
6. What is the most helpful feature of
SchoolNet to a busy teacher?
The most helpful feature of SchoolNet is the Align section where a teacher
can access student records.
7. Is there any advice you would offer
to fellow teachers regarding SchoolNet?
Take the time to learn how to use it because it will be a timesaver
in the
long run.
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