Pictured above, students from Mrs. Shaffner’s first grade class e-mail their EPals from Saudi Arabia. The EPals Classroom Exchange is a program that connects students from BRE with students from all over the world.

Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard

Technology has made the world a smaller place. The Internet, handheld video cameras, iPods, cell phones, and so much more have brought everyone just a little closer together – virtually if not physically. In this process, technology has also changed the look of the school classroom and Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is moving right along with the change.

Currently, BRE has three main computer labs with 25 to 30 desktop computers in each lab. There are also three laptop carts, which can be used in the classrooms. In addition to the computers, students are also utilizing iPods and Karaoke machines to help with reading fluency and editing.

In the main technology lab, students also have the opportunity to work with video cameras and a green screen. Recently, first graders were on assignment with various American symbols behind them as they reported live.

Each classroom also has a projector and document camera and a grant from the Morgridge Foundation supplied three SMART Boards.

“At Buffalo Ridge Elementary the students are exposed to a myriad of technology experiences. Teachers use a variety of technology resources to enhance their teaching; and students use technology hardware/software to further their learning, create digital products and as a tool for communication. We are very fortunate to have a supportive community that has donated funds to increase technology at our school,” said Monica Harmon, Technology and Information Literacy teacher at BRE.

EPals Classroom Exchange

Technology has been enhancing BRE’s students throughout the school year. Seven classes in the school are participating in the EPals Classroom Exchange program. Each week, students write and receive responses from all over the world – places like the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and many more.

According to Terra Shaffner, a first grade teacher participating in the program, students are learning about other cultures and how things are different and how some things are the same all over.

Many of the Epals speak English as their second language and the students pick up on the differences. For example students from the United Kingdom call their mom – “mum”. In Saudi Arabia, the weekend falls on Thursday and Friday. Mostly, the students talk about everyday things that are important to a first grader. “How many teeth have you lost?” “What’s your favorite sport?”

The learning happens without the learners noticing the difference. Harmon said that when the program began, students would first write out on paper what they were going to say to his or her Epal, but after the first couple of weeks they were writing as he or she sat at the computer.

Reading Fluency and Writing Enhancement

Many classrooms at BRE are also taking advantage of technology and helping students with fluency in reading as well as helping with writing and editing.

IPods have been a helpful tool with both reading fluency and writing in the classroom. In Mrs. Wayne’s fifth grade class her students record themselves reading a paper they are working on into the IPod and then listen back to the reading as they edit the paper.

Wayne’s students enjoy working with IPods and according to Brendan Summers, a fifth grader in Wayne’s class, the exercise really works in picking out missed words and punctuation in the paper.

In Mrs. Lang’s second grade class, the IPods are used to help with reading fluency. Students record themselves reading a story into the IPod and then listen as they follow along in the book.

Karaoke machines have even found a spot in the school classroom. In Mrs. Kennedy’s third grade class and in Mrs. Phelan’s fifth grade class, the teachers are singing with their students to help with reading fluency. Students take turns coming up and singing/reading the words to the song. Students without the microphone are asked to sing/read along so the whole class benefits and no one needs to have a case of stage fright.

Technology is constantly changing, and BRE is changing right there with it. “We move our students from 21st century learners to 21st century leaders,” said Ally Berggren, BRE Principal.

To learn more about what is happening at BRE, visit the website at https://www.buffaloridgek5.org/

Pictured above from left to right Kristina Vatter, Brendan Summers, Annie Martinez, Maddy Besocke and Liam Dooley work on editing papers with IPods. Mrs. Wayne’s fifth grade class is using IPods to help with the writing process as well as helping with reading fluency.