Technology Initiatives - Faculty Focus
Using Technology to Enhance the Social Skills Curriculum
During the Fall 2006 semester, West Prairie Middle School 6th grade students, their teacher, Ms. Mary McMahon, and teacher assistant, Mrs. April Favorit, participated in a research project with Dr. Mary Jensen.
The project called “Using
Technology to Enhance the
Social Skills Curriculum” had the sixth grade students identify a new target
behavior skill that would help
them achieve at higher levels
at school. They learned a self instructional
strategy which is a step-by-step plan to help them remember to do their
new target behaviors.
Each student created
an iMovie that showed
themselves talking about
and practicing their new
target skills. The students are
currently collecting data on
the frequency of their new
target behavior skills and
charting on Excel. The results
have been very positive in
showing an increase in the
frequency of their new skills.
The technology portion of the project proved to be very motivating for the students. They had the opportunity to work on Mac laptops, courtesy of the Technology Resource Checkout, part of the Office for Partnerships, Professional Development and Technology. They did word processing on social skill planning forms and imported clip art and their own photos onto the forms. Each of the students participated in making iMovies on the computers.
The process involved using digital still cameras and digital video cameras. All of the students improved their public speaking as they discussed their new target behavior skills while being filmed.
They enjoyed editing their iMovies by incorporating video, still shots, special effects, titles, and music. This project was chosen for presentation at the first annual Faculty Research Day Symposium and at the Eighth Annual COEHS Tech Fest. The 6th graders and their teachers were able to attend and be part of the presentation.
“It has been a pleasure to
have the opportunity to work
with the sixth graders and Ms.
McMahon and Mrs. Favorit,”
said Dr. Jensen. “They are a
very fun class to work with;
they are really cool kids
and diligent workers! The
entire class has incredible
technology skills.
I have been so impressed! If I
ever have a problem or can’t
figure something out, one
of the students always helps
me.”
In Spring 2006 the students worked on public speaking and making iMovies of themselves presenting various types of speeches. The class focused on speeches related to the Pillars of Character. Topics included examples such as Trust, Honesty, Being Responsible, and Good Citizenship. All the media files were saved and each student made a DVD of his/her iMovie work to take home.
