In this division computers and a/v resources are either assigned to faculty members or are available for use in the 4th floor Media Center.
Smartboards are installed in the following locations- 4th floor Media Center, Room 412 (Marna), Room 411 (Ed), Room 401 (Janet), Room 505 (Peter), 6th Grade (Erin), 6th Grade (Rachel), 6th Grade (Tony). Each Smartroom includes a DVD/VHS player.
There are two TV/VCR/DVD units assigned to the 4th floor, one to the 5th floor, one to the 6th floor and is used by ‘sign-up’ online. Other equipment is available - digital cameras, digital video cameras, digital projectors, microphones- for faculty and student use via “Equipment Request Forms” located both online and outside the tech office on the 4th floor, 6th floor or by download on Panthernet.
Major DIMS initiatives:
The major initiatives in the Middle School over the past five years have focused on creating class time for direct instruction of computer literacy skills and creating opportunities for ‘core’ curricular support.
First, there was the creation of the 5th and 6th grade Study Skills course. One-third of the course is direct instruction in ‘computer, information, media literacy’ with the balance providing opportunities to support students’ acquisition of ‘study skills’ and the simultaneous computer/information literacy needed to support their ‘study skills.’ This course is co-taught by the 5th/6th grade advisors, the MS Learning Specialists and the MS Technology Integrator.
Last year completed the juggling of classes/schedules to accommodate a Computer Literacy class in both 7th and 8th grades.
2007-8 was the first year that EVERY student in Middle School participated in a required class where direct instruction was part of the curriculum (for details see DIMS Curriculum, below). Every student had direct contact with librarians and media specialists to support both their skills/use and knowledge of information (library) and technological resources to support their core curriculum.
NB: With the creation of the computer literacy class in both 7th and 8th grades Brooklyn Friends now has required classes in ‘information, computer, and media literacy’ for students from Preschool through 9th grades. (‘Library’ visits/class in Preschool is the FIRST ‘information literacy’ class.) It should be noted that students can participate in some form of direct instruction in ‘information, computer and media literacy’ every year of their BFS education with multiple elective offerings in 10-12th grades (for details see Upper School).
