"Dude, You Need NERD!"

Wylie is incredibly blessed to have so many technology resources.  Several of the topics below have additional information on separate web pages.

microsoft
	OUR PARTNER, MICROSOFT

Wylie ISD is pleased to work with Microsoft, one of our Partners in Education.  Please click the links below to see the ways in which we have worked together to implement technology into education.

• Microsoft Case Study of Wylie ISD's Technology

• Wylie's use of Microsoft Producer for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003:

  • Wylie ISD Demo on Microsoft's web site (scroll toward the bottom)

  • Order or Download a Resource CD including staff and student examples

  • Download Producer 2003

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assess
	ASSESS+ (New, on-line Gradebook)

The 2003-2004 school year marks the launch of Wylie ISD's new, on-line gradebook, Assess+.  Not only are teachers able to work on grades from anywhere there is an Internet connection, but in an effort to increase collaboration between parents and teachers, the former may also monitor their students' grades on-line as well.

Visit the Assess+ web page for more information.

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PROJECTORS
	NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) INTERVIEW

In October 2003, two Wylie teachers were interviewed for a broadcast by National Public Radio (NPR). Mrs. Gina Sisk, a kindergarten teacher from Akin Elementary, and Monique Wilson, one of WISD’s Technology Instructional Mentors (TIMs), conferenced twice with Jackson Braider of NPR. The topic: how does technology—particularly with Microsoft’s PowerPoint XP and Microsoft Producer 2002—impact instruction in public schools?

While in the quest for a better way to teach kindergarteners the alphabet, Mrs. Sisk consulted with Mrs. Wilson, who worked with the students to create products with Microsoft’s Producer 2002. Producer takes PowerPoint to a whole new level by synchronizing PowerPoint slides with digital video. Using a web camera, Monique recorded the students as they stated each letter and its phonetic sound. After synchronizing the slides to advance with the videos, the project was saved as web page. Students were then able to practice their letters and sounds at computer stations by watching themselves and their classmates. Gina mentioned her students had never learned their letters and sounds so quickly and happily.

In Wylie ISD, fourth graders in elementary schools celebrate their “graduation” to the intermediate level each year. Mrs. Sisk and Mrs. Wilson decided to be a little sneaky: during the annual Field Day event in the spring, parents of the soon-to-be-graduates were asked to come and record a congratulation message for their child. These productions were presented as a surprise at the ceremonies for the kids, with misty-eyed parents in attendance.

Thanks, Gina and Monique, for representing us so well to an international audience! WISD is blessed to have you both. Visit our “SimmaNar” page to see the “ABC Kids” project.

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PROJECTORS
	PROJECTORS IN EVERY CLASSROOM

The School Board and leadership of Wylie ISD have decided to fund the installment of projectors into each regular classroom during the Summer of 2002.  The projectors are located in the ceiling and are connected to teachers' PCs and a VCR.  The small size of a monitor is no longer an issue: both teachers and students can use this technology for exciting presentations and instruction.

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CP+ was created in-house to meet the needs of teachers in Wylie ISD. It features a Lesson Planner that links to WISD objectives and allows for the attachment of electronic files, which are ultimately exported to MS Outlook. In addition, an Activity Organizer permits teachers to share ideas for instruction district-wide.

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HELPING OUT

HELPING OUT

The Technology Department recently helped in the classrooms of Hartman Elementary.
Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.

    
  

This little guy thought the tech department guys were cool!