Digital Learning Day in WCS

Published February 7, 2013

February 6, 2013, was identified as a national day to spotlight the use of technology as a successful instructional practice.

“While every day in Williamson County is focused on using the best tools to support student learning, we want to highlight 24 classroom examples of technology use across our district yesterday," said Belinda Moss, Instructional Technology Coordinator for the district. "Thank you to all of our teachers for planning lessons each day that focus on the best ways to engage our students in thinking and learning."

Allendale Elementary: Meredith Atchison’s third grade class is studying making generalizations and inferences as part of their Literacy unit. After reading the story Rocks In His Head by Carol Otis Hurst, students got the hands-on experience of exploring different types of rocks, fossils and minerals. Students then deepened their learning by exploring the website Big Universe on their wireless technology and student computers to read electronic books about rocks, fossils and minerals. Students reflected on what they learned and communicated it to others through WCS student email.

Brentwood Middle: Erin McGill’s sixth graders analyzed data from box and whisker plots created from survey results. These were created in their safe student Google accounts.

Chapman’s Retreat Elementary: Fourth grade students in Mrs. Wilhelm's class used Discovery Education accounts to do a research project on the colonies to create an advertisement online for their colony.

Chapman's Retreat Elementary: Amy Griffin's fourth grade class used KidBlog to discuss their “visits” to the 13 colonies.

Fairview Elementary: Lauren Suchomski’s library classes used Google docs to coordinate research questions and topics and give each other feedback.

Fairview Middle: Lisa Kennedy’s sixth grade class used mobile devices to research real people that later appeared in tall tales in their study of myths, legends, folk tales and fables.

Fairview Middle: Teresa Williams’ eighth grade science students used Wallwisher to post responses to the bell ringer prompts about gravity and about contrasting mass and weight.

Fairview High: Ricky Jones and his tenth grade world history students used Wallwisher.com to display knowledge from assigned reading the night before. This information was used by the teacher to plan instruction based upon what the students demonstrated they understood from their reading.

Fairview High: Theatre students independently used IPads to research actors they wanted to mimic. The video display of acting techniques was motivating and engaging according to Principal Juli Oyer.

Grassland Elementary: Students in Leslie Wheeler's third grade class collaborated using IPADS to work on building vocabulary and deductive reasoning skills.

Grassland Middle: Melissa Lewis and her sixth grade science students used Google Earth as a tool to better understand altitude and distance in space.

Hillsboro School: Students in Kelly Davis’ fifth grade class were blogging with Blooms taxonomy. Students scanned a QR code for quick access to their class blog page and responded to a question aligned with Blooms Taxonomy as it relates to their independent reading book.

Hunters Bend Elementary: Mindy Kyte’s fourth grade class took a www.socrative.com quiz as a quick check in Social Studies on the American Revolution. Throughout the day, they used a discussion board to connect with The Fabled 4th Graders of Aesop Elementary in reading class. Students also created a fairytale story using www.StoryJumper.com, after reading a fairytale book. Finally, they used www.Prezi.com to summarize either If You Lived During the American Revolution or Magic Tree House: Revolutionary War on Wednesday, a non-fiction book they are reading in small groups.

Independence High: IHS administered the TCAP Writing Assessment online. IHS is the only WCS high school to participate in the pilot for the state of TN.

Kenrose Elementary: Students in Elizabeth Derck’s fourth grade class used Hershey bars to create visual representations of adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. Students documented their work using digital devices to photograph fractions to explain what they have learned in a Wixie presentation.

Page Middle: Tabitha Durham’s eighth grade students were using a Google form to submit responses demonstrating their understanding of solving systems of linear equations.

Ravenwood High: Donna J. Smith’s English IV students shared a digital comic they created based upon a satire they wrote using A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift as their mentor piece. This lesson focused on analysis of an author's choices concerning structure, meaning, and aesthetic impact.

Ravenwood High: Donna J. Smith started a new class blog responding to 18th Century Author Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women to teach students to probe reasoning and evidence and to clarify, verify and challenge ideas and conclusions.

Scales Elementary: Fourth graders demonstrated what occurs to a cookie when physical and chemical changes are applied using Wixie.

Scales Elementary: Miss Kehayes’ third grade class practiced division independently using Edmodo during their digital center time.

Spring Station Middle: Students used the Gorilla Workout app in their PE classes.

Summit High: Students in Deborah Bohn’s English II Honors class analyzed poems and submitted their analysis using online polling.

Walnut Grove Elementary: Teacher Anna Milton and her students with special needs accelerated learning with digital devices. One student using a mobile app can now communicate what he understands for the very first time.

Westwood Elementary: Emily Hollett’s fifth graders used IPads and a screen recording app to practice math.