Fourth graders from Wenonah Elementary School have been working hard on Career Exploration projects. Six fourth graders represented the grade level at the Celebration of Technology in Education event on Friday at Dowling College.
With Wenonah’s Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Erin Lounsbury-Marone, fourth graders have been interviewing experts in their career fields through Skype and making “Help Wanted” posters in Google Drawing.
The iPad leaders created a website through Google Sites that showcases their projects to showcase the entire fourth grade. Through video conferencing, website design and digital collaborative drawing applications, the students are learning the skills needed for the 21st century.
Students Skyped with Mrs. Spangler-Martin, a Marine Studies teacher at Sachem North and former Stranding Technician in Hampton Bays. She talked about rescuing sea turtles and even seeing a manatee in the ocean.
Students also Skyped with Ms. Fitzpatrick, a Sachem graduate and veterinarian student about a career in veterinary science and Mr. Marone, who is a project manager of a video game company in New York City. There are other Skype sessions scheduled as well.
Since some students were interested in education, the school contacted Sachem Superintendent James Nolan, who paid them a visit last week, rather than just talking on video.
Students dressed to impress and greeted Mr. Nolan at the front door to escort him down to the media center where the interview began.
Mr. Nolan shared where his real office is and how the most important decision in his life was to become a teacher. When the interview was over, the students wrote him Tweets–complete with a hashtag that will be sent over to his office.
“I was so impressed by the level of maturity, poise, respect and critical thinking that the students demonstrated,” Mr. Nolan said. “Wenonah is certainly a very special school. It was such a pleasure to spend some time with our amazing students. That is the very best part of my job! What I experienced during my conversations with these intelligent and personable young men and women, is a credit to Ms. DiPaola, her staff, and the parents and families who are encouraging each one of them to become confident, competent, caring leaders. More importantly, they are becoming the very best version of themselves.”
