Educational Technology at Sunrise

The Elk Grove Unified School District has made an extraordinary commitment to educational technology. We have a full-time certificated teacher - Mr. Klink - assigned to the computer lab as well as a structured curriculum designed to develop key computer skills that will help our students succeed when they move on to middle school and high school.

First and second grades visit the computer lab once each week for 35 minutes. Third through sixth grade students come to the computer lab twice each week for a total of 80 minutes.

In addition to computer activities that reinforce the math and reading curriculum, primary students develop keyboarding readiness. They learn the home row position and basic keyboarding skills.

We expect all intermediate students to become competent typists. When we talk to middle and high school teachers we hear, again and again, that they appreciate properly formatted, word processed documents. Students who are competent at keyboarding are at a great advantage when it comes to word processing applications.

Students are also introduced to the use of spreadsheets. By sixth grade, in addition to basic data entry, all students have been exposed to the use of simple formulas and the creation of charts from data stored in spreadsheets.

Students learn to create computer art using paint or "bitmap" graphics, as well as draw or "vector" graphics. Vector graphics are the same kind of computer graphics that are the basis of "CAD" (Computer Assisted Design) programs used by architects, designers, and engineers.

Students also learn to use software, such Microsoft PowerPoint, to create multimedia presentations.

Finally, students learn how to use the Internet to gather information. This includes the use of search engines and the evaluation of the credibility of websites.

Beyond the computer lab we have many plans to integrate technology with our curriculum. We've already had great success implementing the "Accelerated Reader" program. We are a young school with lots of room to grow. Watch this space!!