2009 TIE Award Winner - Janet Acerra

I first became familiar with Tech4Learning in 2006 when I was selected by my superintendent to become the first elementary educator in my district to teach a 1-to-1 laptop initiative.   I was expected to integrate the technology, conduct research on how it was impacting student learning, and develop lessons that utilized technology in all subject areas of my 4th grade classroom. When I piloted Pixie in 2008, my students and I immediately fell in love. This program has enabled our class to expand our learning in ways that are unbelievable!

My class of 10-12 year-olds faces different challenges in learning. Some have difficulty focusing, others deal with language deficits, and many have problems finding ways to express themselves through writing. Several students are working above level and need enrichment and challenge. Still others simply learn at varying rates, have different learning strengths/intelligences, and need opportunities for review and practice. Add this to a curriculum which is jam-packed and standards-based, the stresses of state assessment testing, and the lack of time to be creative, and the challenges of teaching become obvious!

Many of these concerns have been alleviated, however, since the introduction of Pixie. My kids have embraced the program and constantly come up with new ways to utilize it to demonstrate their learning. The simple fact that our work can be transformed into movies, which we can then download onto our iPods and share with students in other classes, has given my children a new incentive for working harder.  Grading their work has also become easier for me and down right fun to do, as I can now simply “watch” their work on my iPod while I sit in a comfy chair at the park!

In the last month, we started working on a science content review movie to help us prepare for the state test and remind about important topics we have studied. Student science teams have been working to discuss what to include and no two review projects look the same! The fact that the science content is similar, but the results are so completely different, continues to excite and amaze me.

Pixie2 has taken the place of our word processing program, since students can so easily record their ideas in different ways. When I asked one student why he consistently chose Pixie, he explained because it helps him stay focused and better plan for his final product. He loves using the pictures and libraries of stickers and clip art to enhance his work and bring it to life. As he works, he remains on task and creates assignments that have more flair and attraction and when he shares his work, he is more animated and interested .

Although I have had many great ideas over the years and many projects that children have enjoyed doing, nothing can compete with the blinking images and interactive nature of video games and television programming of the new millenium. As a result, I always looking for ways to make learning cool!  Pixie has helped me to do that!

Not only has student work become interactive, but my own lessons have taken on new meaning. I have developed my own movies and slides to teach students about topics in science and math, and by using the many templates and activities available in this program, I have been able to turn lessons that might otherwise seem ordinary and mundane into technological fun!

I could not ever go back to working without this program. I find that it has become an integral part of my teaching and without it, I can honestly say that I would feel unequipped to do my job effectively.

My students have gained a new sense of confidence creating slides and movies and their academic learning has increased. Students who might not have been able to shine academically became tech-heroes as they maneuvered through the technology. As a result, their success spread into their learning and they found ways to communicate their understanding in new and innovative ways.

Wow Project
Each year, my students participate in a national competition sponsored by our local PTA, called the Reflections program. This year’s theme was “WOW!” and students were asked to develop a project which reflected what made them say, “Wow!” Our PTA sent three of my class’s Pixie2 projects to the district level to represent our school!

The first student was one of my gifted kids, created a movie with narration that integrates digital pictures of himself visiting places around the world and unmistakably shares his enthusiasm for the world around him. Arjun spent a great deal of time narrating his work to make it his own and the result was something he will be very proud of for years to come and a keepsake for his family.

The other two entries, however, were from two of my struggling students. Both absolutely hated writing when they first entered my class. Thomas created a movie about his favorite sport football by pairing drawings with narration. His script was carefully written carefully and he practiced his fluency and intonation to make it superior! Dylan used Pixie 2 to create a poem about cats, because of his comfort in working with this tool and and the freedom it gave him to include drawings that reflect his artistic talent and love of this pet.

Not only will these three students represent our class and school proudly, but the intrinsic value of having been selected as the best of the best, has been palpable! The level of confidence and excitement about demonstrating what they know has been incredible and has had a lasting effect on their work in all areas.