• Lincoln School 1st grade teacher Carol Macken set up a distance learning experience between her students and 1st graders in Pennsylvania using the Polycom system.  Students had a chance to "meet" each other and then to become pen pals.
• Lincoln School 2nd grade teachers Ruthann Ribaudo and Linda Mouravieff had students create "How To" stories.  While the assignment itself is not unique to 2nd grade, the second graders used the SMART Board and Photostory 3 programs to create animation and digital stories to illustrate their books.  Parents were treated to a "Red Carpet Premier" of the movie!

• Grover Cleveland Middle School teacher Mike Teshkoyan has his sixth grade students creating digital stories to demonstrate understanding of a class novel, A View From Saturday.  He then posts the stories on You Tube.  You can view the stories here and here.
• James Caldwell High School Social Studies Teacher Kate Murphy posed the question to her students:  If Andrew Jackson had a My Space page, what would it look like?  Who would be his "buddies"?  Students researched his life and then created "fake" My Space pages using blogs.  Check out this great critical thinking assignment.
• In preparation for the trip to the Bronx Zoo, the entire 7th grade created all sorts of visual media including podcasts, videos, digital stories, iMovies, and more on March 26, 2008.

• At the March 10th Regular meeting of the Board of Education, several technology initiatives in the district will be presented.  They include:

-The Podcasting Incentive Grant.  Teachers who applied for and were awarded grants of iPods and recording equipment to use digital sound to assist learning in the classroom.

-Dodge Grant.  Five James Caldwell High School teachers (Susan Callaghan, Kate Murphy, Paul Marrone, Elizabeth Coogan-Russell, and Lisa Everett) along with Director of Instructional Services Barry Bachenheimer were awarded a Geraldine R. Dodge Grant to do action research on the question:  "Does Using Technology as a Learning Tool increase Student Achievement?"  The group will present their preliminary findings.

-Digital Backpacks.  Several Grover Cleveland Middle School teachers were recipients of a grant from Montclair State University in the form of a Digital Backpack.  This backpack holds a MacBook laptop, LCD projector, digital camera, camcorder, MuVo recorder, microphone, document camera, and other peripherals.  They are looking at ways to embed technology into their classes.  The teachers are Maura Lincoln, Paul Kotlewski, Jane Kinkle, Isabella D'Agostino, Megan Holzer, Lisa Peluso, and Melissa Tauro.  They will present the backpacks and their work thus far.

• Washington School teachers Erica Brock, Audrey Martin, and Cathy Mangiola and Washington School principal Barbara Adams gave a presentation to the Board of Education on Technology Usage at Washington School in January.
• Several Grover Cleveland Middle School teachers were recipients of a grant from Montclair State University in the form of a Digital Backpack.  This backpack holds a MacBook laptop, LCD projector, digital camera, camcorder, MuVo recorder, microphone, document camera, and other peripherals.  They are looking at ways to embed technology into their classes.  The teachers are Maura Lincoln, Paul Kotlewski, Jane Kinkle, Isabella D'Agostino, Megan Holzer, Lisa Peluso, and Melissa Tauro.

• Grover Cleveland Middle School science teacher Mrs. D'Agostino uses her class website to keep students organized, even giving detailed lab instructions!
• Several Principals are using podcasting to get messages out.  Check out Mr. Keena and Mrs. Adams holiday messages from December.
• Mr. Bachenheimer, district Director of Instructional Services is the keynote speaker at the "Turning on Learning:  Technology for the 21st Century" conference to be held at Montclair State University in January, 2008.  Mr. Casey Shorter, GCMS Principal is a panel member at the discussion.  Mr. Wayne Rush, GCMS Media Specialist and Mr. Nate Lienhard, JCHS Music Teacher will both be session presenters.

• James Caldwell High School Spanish Teacher Mrs. Coogan-Russell uses a blog to develop student's writing and reading communication skills
• Washington/Wilson Special Educator Ms. Valentine uses her website to post student digital stories and podcasts.
• Grover Cleveland Middle School Science Teacher Mrs. Halkias uses her class website to post study notes for students on various topics
• Jefferson School Kindergarten teacher Ms. Credico uses her website as an integrated part of her class with songs, photos, video, helpful lists, and more!

• Elementary music teacher Ms. Simko has posted music accompaniment and recorded podcasts of her students performing.  Come sing along!
• Washington Elementary School has added to its school website with the 3rd grade, 5th grade, and Special Educator teams creating grade level websites.  A Kindergarten level website is under construction.
• James Caldwell High School English Teacher Mrs. Callaghan is having her 11th grade students keep reflective blogs as part of their creation of their thesis papers.
• Grover Cleveland Middle School Civics Teacher Mr. Kotlewski has students debate current events issues in a virtual debate forum called Nicenet.
• James Caldwell High School Biology teacher Mr. Marrone posts daily webcasts of his science lab experiments for students to review.
• District music teacher Mr. Lienhard puts out a monthly "Lienhardcast" full of music and information