Technology Lab

Students come to the technology lab for a specials class every other week. The lab instructor is a full-time, certified teacher and class content is based on the North Carolina K12 Computer Science Standards. Students receive instruction on a variety of lessons ranging from coding and other computer science topics, how to use devices including keyboarding, common programs and apps like the Microsoft Office Suite and Canva, robotics, safe internet practices and more. These lessons may be taught independently or in the context of the classroom curriculum.

Technology in the Classroom

An on-site technology coach provides teachers extra professional development and support to integrate technology throughout the curriculum. Teachers collaborate with the technology coach to use technology like robots, online journaling platforms, graphic design programs, and online learning games to teach, reinforce, and assess learning. Examples of collaborative projects in the classroom include:

• Kindergartners using SeeSaw to record their thinking about living and non-living things.
• First grade students coding BeeBot robots to retell a story by visiting key details in order.
• Second grade students using Scratch Jr. to code a program to teach others about a type of weather.
• Third grade students collaborating to solve a Breakout Box challenge to review multiplication and division.
• Fourth grade students using Canva to create an "Instagram post" from the perspective of an inventor.
• Fifth grade students coding Root robots to draw a shape and play a melody that they wrote.

Coding

Beginning in 2015 students began receiving basic computer programming lessons during their technology lab time. The lab instructor utilizes curriculum from Code.org. The mission of this program is to provide every child the opportunity to learn about computer science. This curriculum helps students explore coding through the use of block coding games such as Coding with Angry Birds. Students explore the basic principles of computer programming by becoming familiar with algorithms, loops, debugging, conditional and more. Students can even begin to see the lines of code they've written in languages like Python.

Interactive Projectors

Beginning in 2015 General Greene, with support of the PTA, began installing mounted interactive projectors in all Kindergarten through Fifth Grade classrooms. Currently all K-5 classroom are equipped with Epson Brightlink interactive projectors which allow teachers to turn their whiteboard into an interactive resource. Students and teachers can draw out math problems, annotate text and interact with any website without using the computer. The technology lab, the science lab, and the media center have Promethean interactive panels that perform similar functions as will as run additional apps.

Student Devices

All student in Guilford County Schools are assigned a device.  Kindergarten through third grade students are assigned an iPad with a keyboard. Fourth and fifth grade students are assigned a Chromebook. The device may travel to and from school with the student in order to complete assignments.  Teachers will use these devices for instructional purposes.