No Child Left Behind at Long Elementary School
Long Elementary School has been using the LJ ScanTEK Living with Science and Living with Technology modules as part of an evaluation pilot for the district. We visited and spoke with Carrie Launius, Elementary Science Co-ordinator, Lindbergh School District and some of her students about their experiences.
Carrie told us “My experience of ScanTEK has been very positive, I feel that it gives children an opportunity to be successful in science and to be able to experience tactile science activities. I find it particularly exciting for my children that are non-traditional learners who may have learning disabilities or other health impairments. Although I have a science background I find that with ScanTEK I don’t rely on it like I did when I was teaching traditionally, because it is self-guided and the information is there for them. I truly facilitate what is going on.
The two modules I have been using are very comprehensive and they cover our state science curriculum and our Missouri MAP program. It also fits well with No Child Left Behind, because it hooks together technology and the National Science Standards.
According to Carrie the children really love using the system and they are always asking to get onto the computers to do the Living with Science work. “The way they have integrated the modules and the computers into the 5th grade homeroom make it possible for individual groups of students to log on and work at their own pace. They collect the trays of hardware they need from the storage carts and take them back to the computer station. Once they have logged on they are able to work completely independently with the teacher acting as a facilitator.”
We asked Geoff Rueben, one of the students in the 5th grade class what he liked about the ScanTEK program, he told us, “Every one likes working with it because you get to work in a group instead of sitting at a desk reading a little book by ourselves. While we are learning science we are also learning group activities, how to work together and teamwork. I think that is going to help us a lot in life.”
