TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Schools Provide Atomic Learning

ADVERTISEMENT

By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune Correspondent

Published: January 13, 2008

The recent YouTube presidential debates highlight the role technology is playing in every aspect of life.

It's a rapidly changing world, and Pasco County schools are adapting to make sure their students are ready for it.

"Today's students will face a lot of competition in the workplace," said Wendy Spriggs, director of instructional media and technological services for Pasco schools. "We have to make sure that they have the communication tools that give them the advantage, that allow them to bring their message to the forefront."

For the past five years, the school district has subscribed to Atomic Learning, a Web site that offers step-by-step video tutorials on computer-based programs and applications.

"This is a wonderful resource that provides little video vignette tutorials on a full range of software applications used in education or the work force," Spriggs said. "You can even open the video clip tutorial as you're doing the program or application it applies to. You can watch, then do."

Most of the tutorials are brief and viewable on QuickTime software.

Spriggs said Atomic Learning is widely used in a variety of Pasco classrooms, from second grade on. While a media teacher might use Atomic Learning to teach the basics of PowerPoint, iMovie or iPhoto, an English instructor might teach students how to create a wiki page - a primer on any subject contributed to an online encyclopedia. A business instructor could teach Microsoft Excel and Word.

A strong proponent of Atomic Learning is Kim Saavedra, a communications technology teacher at Land O' Lakes High School. She's using an Atomic Learning tutorial to teach students how to design PowerPoint presentations.

"Having Atomic Learning in the classroom is like having 29 other teachers in the room to help with the students," she said. "Atomic Learning shows them exactly, point by point, what they need to know."

Parents Can Use Atomic Learning

Students also can access Atomic Learning at home to help with homework assignments, Spriggs said. Parents can use it, too.

"We're putting news items about Atomic Learning in school newsletters to promote its use among parents," Spriggs said. "A stay-at-home mom re-entering the work force, for example, might use Atomic Learning to sharpen their technological skills."

Sunlake High media specialist Robin Gibson said Atomic Learning is an efficient teaching tool.

"As a media specialist, it's my job to help teachers and students," she said. "If students need help with a project, I can direct them to an Atomic Learning tutorial that lasts 30 seconds to a minute that up to three or four students at a time can watch.

"Once students get instruction in class, they get clarification from Atomic Learning."

At newly opened Sunlake, some of the "students" using Atomic Learning tutorials are the teachers.

"With a brand-new school, changes happen very quickly," Gibson said. "I'm using Atomic Learning to teach Sunlake teachers programs like Microsoft Office and FileMaker Pro. I encourage them to watch the tutorials, then call me if they have questions.

"When they walk away from a tutorial, they know they can do it on their own."

Kids Post Good Deed Online

Joe Groppe, technical specialist for Lake Myrtle Elementary School, said Atomic Learning can teach students, parents and teachers a technical trade that would cost a great deal of money to learn through formal training.

It's also helped school officials reinforce good social skills.

"One day, I saw a girl upset because she had forgotten her lunch. A classmate came along and offered her his lunch," Groppe said. "We interviewed the boy about his good deed and, using skills learned through Atomic Learning, the kids put it up on the school Web site.

"Parents, teachers and especially kids need to see kids doing positive things."

Of course, teachers are stressing the Web site's more technically focused offerings. Technological skills are essential in today's school environment, where computer-based lessons, video projects and even podcasts are commonplace, and in the technology-driven workplace, Spriggs said.

"It's more and more necessary for kids to learn about digital and video technology in multiple formats," she said. "With the help of Atomic Learning, they can become creative communicators."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT