Technology
 
at Parsley Elementary

Altogether, there are over 200 computers (desktop and laptop) at Parsley, all of which connect to the network. Though we previously used Macintosh computers, beginning with the 2006/2007 school year, all students and staff use Windows XP computers. The only Macintosh computers remaining at Parsley are iBook laptops. They are issued to teachers and may also be used by students in the classroom.

Computer Lab: While in the lab, students will integrate technology skills into other curriculum areas such as language arts, math, sceince, social studies, etc. Any teacher may schedule time in the computer lab to work with their students.

Mounted in the ceiling is an LCD data projector that displays from the teacher station. Teachers use this to model instruction.

The computer lab has two laser printers.

Media Center: There are six computers in the Media Center that students use primarily for card catalog, Internet research, and taking AR quizzes. Three other Windows computers are used for circulation - checking in and checking out books and other materials to students and staff as well as for other staff use. A TV and electronic screen are available for presentation. The Media Coordinator may choose to teach using a laptop, data projector, mimio, and a document camera.

Two carts are available to checkout that have a laptop, LCD data projector, mimio, and document camera. Staff may check these out and use them in their classroom for instruction.

Housed in the Media Center is a cart of 26 AlphaSmarts. An AlphaSmart is a portable text writer. Teachers can check out individual AlphaSmarts or the whole set of 26. Their portability makes them ideal for recording data (word processing) at remote locations such as on a field trip. They are also great for keyboarding practice. They connect to a computer via USB or serial cable and can then "dump" their text into any program with a blinking cursor such as Microsoft Office or even KidPix. They are powered by two double A batteries that last for a surprisingly long time!

There is a scanner and one color laser printer.

The Media Retrieval System is housed in the Media Center. Through its use, teachers, using a web based program, may schedule the playing of a video tape or DVD that is available in our media collection. Although more than one classroom can watch a video at the same time, only the scheduling teacher can control (start, pause, and stop) the video. Through the use of the Media Retrieval System, we are able to broadcast to each classroom and other TVs throughout the building.

Production: Parsley is very proud of their weekly production, "Parsley Today" that began the first year we opened (2001). Starting with the 2003 school year, we have taken our show "on the road" and broadcast live from a different location, usually a classroom, when a teacher has scheduled a show. We use a digital video camera to broadcast (and tape) our shows. When necessary, a show may be prerecorded, edited if necessary, and broadcast at a later date.

Other Cameras:We also have three other video cameras and many digital cameras. Each teacher has been issued a digital camera for use during the school year. There are others available for staff check-out from the Media Center.

Classrooms: Most classrooms at Parsley have four student desktop Windows computers. Classroom teachers have a Windows desktop computer for administrative use. All of the desktop computers connect to the network and have access to the Internet. Each classroom also has one printer that is networked. Classrooms that use Accelerated Math may also have an Accelerated Math AccelScan.

Each classroom has a television. Most classrooms also have a "boombox" and overhead projector. Primary grades may also have "listening center" equipment which may consist of a tape player and sets of headphones.

Office: Administrative staff use Windows computers and have access to network laser printers.

The Network at Parsley allows all computers to access the Internet. Desktop computers, through the network, have the capability of saving documents to a server. This allows the flexibility of being able to access your documents on any other computer that has the same program that can open the document. For our students, this means they can begin an assignment in one location, save it, and complete it at a later date on any other computer at Parsley. Networked programs such as Accelerated Reader allow students to access the program and their personal data anywhere.

Click here to learn about Internet use at Parsley.