LCSI - Company

G.W. Childs School, a K-4 school with approximately 700 students, has developed a Technology Education program that supports and fosters independent problem solving, critical thinking, and cooperative learning. Based on the Philadelphia Curriculum Frameworks, a guide for developing standards based projects and lesson plans, the Technology program strives to support a cross-curricular approach to computer education. Students are engaged in projects which incorporate learning from their studies in all subject areas. Students work in a computer lab once a week for 45 minutes. Students have access to computers throughout the school building, in the library, their classrooms, science lab and other instructional areas.

The School District of Philadelphia Children Achieving Plan, maintains the use of Technology in all subject areas. Childs School continues to explore this idea in looking for open-ended problem solving software that supports critical thinking and collaboration. LOGO has been used at Childs since 1990. Students begin their LOGO instruction in first grade as a way to familiarize young students with "taking control of the computer," and to build a foundation for programming. Beginning in third grade MicroWorlds is used to challenge the students' thinking about technology and provide them with an opportunity to "stretch" their own thoughts about computers and technology in the creation of computer simulation programs which reflect their own ideas and imaginations.

MicroWorlds was chosen as a software tool that demonstrates the objectives of quality technology education: Providing an open-ended programming environment in which students can explore, create and apply prior knowledge, while participating in a rich, authentic and meaningful learning experience. MicroWorlds provides the constructivist programming
environment that allows students to apply their knowledge, share their learning, and gain valuable programming and problem solving skills. It creates an environment where the students are highly motivated to create and expand their thinking and learning. It has been used extensively as part of the computer lab program, in collaboration with the science lab program, for the past two years.

For comments, contact:

Paula Don
Technology Facilitator
Office of Information Technology/LTSG
(formerly of Childs School)
[email protected]