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Students connect both technically, personally

Published: April 7, 2000 12:00 AM

Apple Creek Elementary School has found a way to improve students' human communications while advancing computer skills at the same time.

First-grade teacher Judith Wagner calls the program "Apple Creek Buddies" -- an interactive study and learning program where sixth-grade students help their first-grade schoolmates learn on, with and about computers and modern technology.

"Last summer sixth-grade teacher Jen Yockey and I worked together and we came up with the basis of the idea. We thought it would be a good way to connect children of different ages in an educational setting. It teaches the students responsibility for each other and it's a good way to get more students into the computer lab. We're trying to accomplish a connection between students," Wagner said.

According to Joy Bishop, a junior communication sciences and disorders major at the College of Wooster and a pre-service teacher at Apple Creek Elementary, the program also is a result of a "Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology" federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education. "The grant was pursued by professors in the College of Wooster education department. They acquired the grant and decided the best way to use the resources was to develop teams in different area schools. The teams work on different projects but they all focus on action research and the changing roles of technology in the classroom," Bishop said.

According to Bishop, the grant paid for eight Macintosh iBook computers, one Macintosh G3 computer, a scanner, video projector, printer, digital camera and digital video camera that all fit in a portable wheeled container. "Action research is where, in the most basic sense, you form a question and then study and research that question through setting up a situation to study reactions to the question in the field. With it we can study the impact technology has on teaching, learning, students and educators," Bishop explained.

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Wagner commented, "With the equipment available through the grant, along with the iMac equipped computer lab already at Apple Creek Elementary, we needed a way to really get the kids to learn how computers work. By getting the older kids to help the younger, they all will have a better understanding of the lab, how to use the computers and how to work together.

"One of our goals at Southeast Local Schools is to prepare our students so that when they go out into the world they'll know as much about technology as possible. In today's world the sooner they learn the better. We don't want computers to be a separate educational entity. They should be integrated in day-to-day learning as much as possible," Wagner said.

Wagner went on to add that putting the two grades together results in more focused instruction. "The younger children get to learn from older kids who they respect and the older kids learn by teaching. This is definite, focused computer time. For a child to stop and think about why they know what they know and then to teach it focuses their own learning. There's someone else there that they are responsible for and that keeps them on task," Wagner said.

When asked what he most enjoyed about his time in the program, sixth-grader Dustin Heitger replied, "Working together and finding out new stuff."

Sixth-grader Lindsey Suppes added, "I think we should do more stuff with our buddy. I found out that little kids have good ideas."

First-grader Taylor Butler said, "I'd like to give my buddy a beautiful hug."

On Saturday, at Mateer Hall on the College of Wooster Campus, the department of education will present "eLearning: Who, How, and Why? (A Symposium on Learning AND Technology)." The symposium runs from 1:30-5 p.m.

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