Science and Technology
Forest View Elementary
At Forest View, we use technology as a tool to support instruction. While the program is based in the Media Center, technology is in use throughout the building. Teachers use laptops and digital projectors to share multimedia resources. With students, our focus is always on student production and creativity. Children create projects that integrate sound, digital photography, art, word processing, and video to convey their understanding of concepts in the classroom. We use the Internet and other digital resources for research for our projects. Students learn to use digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and scanners and can check out this equipment from the media center for projects.
Each morning, we broadcast the news live via the school’s in-house TV system. Students in all grade levels serve as news anchors. Second graders participate in the daily weather report. A team of 5th graders serve as a Tech Crew that produces the show each morning.
Production Tech Crew
The Tech Crew not only learns how to produce the morning news, but also sets up video and audio for student performances and visiting artists. The work with a sound mixer and set up microphones, speakers, and stands for each performance. They also broadcast special events, like visits from local artists, to all classrooms.
New Hope Creek Project
Forest View at New Hope Creek engages students nature exploration and data collection at a nearby natural area. The project combines science and technology in a relevant way for children and staff. Among other projects, students have created an on-line guide to animal species based on the school’s work at New Hope Creek.
Technology Resources
•wireless network in common areas of school
•T1 Cable Internet Connectivity in all classrooms, offices, and common areas with filtering software for elementary-appropriate content
•In-house video production and broadcasting system
•2 mobile laptop carts with a total of 30 MacBooks*
•2 mini labs of 15 Apple eMac, G-5 and iMac computers each, housed in the Media Center used by students independently and with their classes
•Promethean ActiveBoards in 4th-5th grade classes
•BrightLink Interactive Projectors in 3rd grade classes
•digital still cameras*
•digital video cameras*
•digital projectors*
•document cameras*
•scanners
•networked black and white HP Laser Printers throughout the school; one networked HP color laser printer in the Media Center
*items available for checkout through the Media Center
Linda Tugurian serves as Science/Technology Faciliator at Forest View. She has been teaching at Forest View in this capacity since 2000. National Board Certified in science, she especially enjoys sharing her love for the natural sciences with students and faculty. She is a certified NC Environmental Educator and was the 2006 Educator in Residence at Prairie Ridge Ecostation (NC Museum of Natural Sciences). She received her BA in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, an MS in Science and Environmental Education from Cornell University, and is currently pursuing a PhD from North Carolina State University. She served as an on-line instructor of professional development for teachers with LearnNC, teaching a course entitled, “Biodiversity is Your Backyard” and has taught the Masters level Elementary Science Methods course at NC State University.
What does technology mean at Forest View?
