21st century tools for tomorrow's leaders!
Technology is vital to the success of STM-STC students.
At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, St. Clement School in Rosedale merged with St. Michael the Archangel School in Overlea to form St. Michael – St. Clement School. As a newly formed school community STM-STC now offers 21st century learning tools to promote academic success!
To everyone's benefit, former Pre-K instructor, Mr. Bryan White, accepted the full-time Technology Education position, and is responsible for teaching technology to all students in Pre-K 3 to Grade 8. Mr. White received his Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University in 2001, and last year he earned his Master’s degree in Educational Technology, also from Towson University. “It’s been a challenging year and the learning curve has been great, but I’m really excited about the opportunities that I can take from my master’s program and incorporate specific web tools and applications that I’ve been exposed to and bring them into the classroom.” Additionally, “internet safety is of the utmost importance here at STM-STC, and the school utilizes a safe search application and incorporates a strict content filter and firewall to keep out unwanted content.”
Thanks to a $125K grant from the Knott Foundation, students now have 1:1 access to either an iPad or a Dell Chromebook in the classroom. iPads are allocated to all students in Pre-K 3 through Grade 2, while students in Grades 3-8 receive Dell Chromebooks. Students carry the laptops with them throughout their school day. iPads and Chromebooks are kept at school. However, student can access content at home by using their google email account.
| Grades | Sample Technology Lesson | Student Benefit |
| Pre-K 3&4 | iPad applications to master swiping to progress, fingering to select, shaking to erase, tilting to level. | Strengthens coordination and fine motor skills |
| Kindergarten and 1st Grade | Easy block coding applications | Encourages experimentation while developing problem-solving skills, planning, sequencing, and critical thinking. |
| 2nd - 4th Grade | Building Lego Kits | Develops problem solving skills, mathematical thinking, focusing, and attention to detail. Introduces ideas of symmetry, balance, as shapes and sizes are explored. |
| 4th Grade | Block coding | Improves processing, communicating, and innovation skills. |
| 5th – 8th Grade | Extensive coding, 3-D modeling, exposure to robotics and drones | Explores different learning pathways, turns frustrations into creativity and innovation, builds engagement and creates excitement while allowing students to conceptualize and visualize designs through all stages of development - from sketch to final product. |
STM-STC also utilizes digital textbooks and/or online streaming opportunities. Students in grades 4-8 utilize e-books for Science and Social Studies, while students up to Grade 3 will stream content and instructional resources which deepens student engagement and extends critical thinking!
Also, as a result of the recent $1.2M in school renovations, Labouré Hall is now equipped with a Hydroponic Garden Station which is a self-contained growing system which consists of a growing container, a water reservoir, growing media, and a pump that recirculates the water. We recently planted lettuce and spinach seeds and sprouts should be seen in time for our Winter Open House.
Another hands-on STEM application at STM-STC is our Augmented Reality Sandbox which allows students to create topography models by shaping real sand, which is the augmented in real time by an elevation color map, topographic contour line and simulated water. The system teaches geographic, geologic, and hydro-logic concepts such as how to read a topography map, the meaning of contour lines, watershed, catchment areas, levees and more.
“Our leading-edge technology allows STM-STC to stand apart from other schools”, said Mr. White. “My students are full of enthusiasm as they enjoy all the programs, materials and electronics that are now available in our Technology Curriculum.”
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