Technology

The purpose of the technology program at Catholic Academy of West Buffalo is to prepare our students for the future. That's a pretty tall order since it is widely believed we are training students for jobs that don't yet exist. There are basic foundations that are universal, however. We use one of the most popular productivity suites available, Microsoft Office. In first grade students are introduced to Microsft Word, they are always so excited to see their name appear in a Word Art format. By third grade students are inserting and formatting Word Art and graphics. We continue to build on those skills throughout the next few years. Additionally students create spreadsheets using Excel, create presentations using PowerPoint and learn to use the Internet as a research tool as well as safe, educational entertainment resource. Check out coolmath.com a favorite for nearly all grade levels, or abcya.com for grades Pre K - Grade 5.

Mitchell Kapor once said, "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant. " The aim for this year is to teach the students to use the information available on the Internet in a wise and discerning way. The student shouldn't drown trying to sip from the information available, and  yet they must learn to decide which websites are reliable. To this end students in grades 2 - 8 will do more researching and writing throughout the school year. This will be integrated with Core Curriculum requirements.

B.F. Skinner wrote, "The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do." (Contingencies of Reinforcement, 1969) Our goal is to teach all children to think, problem solve and reason and ultimately solve Dr. Skinner's dilemma!

Mrs. Johnson, Technology Instructor & Grade 8 Homeroom   mjohnson@cawb.org

Bored? Finished with your homework? Looking for something to do? Check out these websites for fun, educational games!