Tech ABCs

December 5, 2008 in Computer Lab

A technology teacher from my district spent the day with me yesterday. She noticed my Technology ABCs and asked if I could share them with her. Of course I said yes, so I figured I’d share them here, too! Here they are in PDF and Word (in case you want to make changes).

I cut them out and put them above my white board, just like a “regular” teacher would. Hope you find them useful. If you look real hard you can see them in this picture.

2008-2009 Lesson Plans

September 1, 2008 in Computer Lab

While stuck inside due to Hurricane Gustav, I decided to create a Google Doc outline of my lesson plans.  Feel free to use any of my lesson ideas for your own computer lab. Click here to view them: Mrs. Coggin’s 2008-2009 Technology Lesson Plans

Construction Has Started

July 27, 2008 in Computer Lab

Since finding out about my job status, I felt I could move full speed ahead and actually do a little decorating in my room. I have been busy brainstorming ideas for classroom decorations for the upcoming year to go along with my construction theme. Friday, my wonderful husband went with me to begin putting up a “road” on one of my walls in my classroom. It turned out great, but I totally forgot to bring my camera with me to get pics. I will add some next week. I have decided to do the road on one wall (the Information Highway), and do large tools (hammer, wrench, saw, etc.) on my other large wall. The title will be “Technology Tools” and I will write the names of some of the tools we will be using throughout the year (Blogs, Wikis, Podcasting, etc.).

Today I managed to get my traffic light decoration made. I plan on hanging it from the ceiling in the middle of the room.

Continue below to see how I made it (includes pics).

Computer Lab Theme Update

July 13, 2008 in Computer Lab

In my last post I explained that I have decided to go with a theme in the computer lab this year. After many Google searches for classroom themes, computer lab themes, etc. I have chosen a construction theme.  The “motto” will be Futures Under Construction. I’m really excited about this theme.  So much that I have transformed my classroom blog into a new website/blog for the upcoming year to match the theme. On current website,  I can change the header and background colors (and of course design the pages), but I have to email my site admin to do these things. I am a perfectionist, so I believe I would only drive them crazy with my requests to try this and try that. The blog gives me the freedom to upload my header once or thirty times until it is just right for me. I will also change it each year to match whatever theme I choose. I also like that the blog will now be included in the website, whereas before it was another place for the students to visit. They really weren’t comfortable with the blog because of how seldom they were able to go there.

The week before school starts I will point my domain name towards the new site.

Exciting!

Computer Lab Themes

July 9, 2008 in Computer Lab

After seeing Vicky S’s cool computer lab wiki on the Elementary Tech Teachers Ning, I noticed her lab will have a theme this year: It’s a Small World.  I really love the idea of having a yearly theme, and it would be an excuse to spruce up the room a bit.  I think it would grab the students’ interest as well and get them excited about what they will learn in the lab.

I googled “computer lab themes” and ran across a fabulous computer lab website by Mrs. Steen.  She has a jungle theme in her lab, complete with decorations and “Top Banana” awards! She has so many resources for other computer lab teachers as well, including a wealth of thematic links that will definitely come in handy during the year. This is definitely a site to check out if you are a computer lab teacher.

I guess you can adapt any classroom theme to the computer lab, so that is my mission. I will report back my findings and decision!

Update: I just found a treasure trove of computer lab pictures decorated in the “Study Island” theme from the contest they had back in 2007. Click on the school entries by state at the bottom to see all of the entries. It will take forever to look through them all!