K-8 Computer Lab Teachers

Hello. I am not sure if there is a discussion out there for computer lab teachers yet. If not, I would like to start one so we can bounce ideas and resources off each other. I spent my first year teaching as a computer lab teacher. At first I was hesitant because I thought I would be a classroom teacher. Now, I love it and feel I am in the right place at the right time.

This September I start my second year only this time i am at a Chicago Public School with 600+ students. I have a lot of work to do to prepare and would love to talk with anyone about tips, tricks, what to avoid, etc.

Thanks,
Jeremiah Olson

Tags: computer, lab, labs

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Permalink Reply by Nita Shori on August 31, 2008 at 4:34pm

Jeremiah
Hats off to you for starting off this discussion joint for technology teachers. I am in my second year of teaching. I was in a Grade 4 classroom last year and this year will be starting off as the computer teacher/network manager for our school. Overwhelmed with apprehensions, I find this site to be an excellent spot for the resolution of a lot of my worries. In fact, I've already started to feel better with some people's ideas. In the state of panic that I'm in, any suggestions/advice would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Nita.

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on September 26, 2008 at 8:02am

Urgent help: Is anyone using Kidpix in their schools? Our lab is XP and we are using Kidpix deluxe 4 but this summer we changed our users from administrator to poweruser and Kidpix is no longer working properly. Is their any other software or online site you know that might be more capatible with XP but be similiar to this program?

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Permalink Reply by Vicky S on September 26, 2008 at 10:40am

Try Tux Paint if you want to install something on the computers or Kerpoof if you want to use something online.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Lee on September 26, 2008 at 11:43pm

That's odd that modern applications won't run under a standard user account. I run a lab full of kidpix deluxe under power users accounts. In any case, in an pinch, there is a FREEWARE program called STEEL RUN AS that will let you run that program as an administrator while the rest of computer under a regular user or power user account on XP.
http://www.steelsonic.com/steelrunas.htm

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Permalink Reply by Angela Nix on February 10, 2009 at 12:04pm

I teach computer lab at my school. 7 classes a day! ! ! ! I even teach Pre-K! It is a challenge everyday to keep up with the students fast paced know-how! I would love to collaborate with each other. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on March 30, 2009 at 12:26pm

We are looking into Pixie 2 which seems similar to Kid Pix Deluxe 4. We have had problems with incompatibility with Kid Pix 4. Does anyone know anything about Pixie 2 it is a product by Linux. It has the added features of being able to be saved in other formats and made into a movie. It can do several pictures as a string etc..., however, I would like to hear from someone who has used it before we purchase it.

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Permalink Reply by Ellen on March 30, 2009 at 12:50pm

Pixie2 is produced by Tech4Learning. They have an excellent suite of creativity software for students that echoes the functions of professional software like Illustrator (Twist), Photoshop (Imageblender),
Flash (Frames) and Pixie2, which allows you to do a lot more than Kid Pix. You can download a free 30-day trial of any of the Tech4Learning software from their site.

I do not work for them, but have used all of their software in my lab and love all of it. I highly recommend it. They are a very responsive company and will listen to customer suggestions to improve their products.

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Permalink Reply by Gerald Logan on March 30, 2009 at 1:36pm

Another product we use is Tuxpaint, while it does not sound as feature rich as Pixie2 it is open source thus has no budget issues.

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on April 2, 2009 at 7:53am

Thank you so much for your help. I will use Tuxpaint if I do not receive the grant that I am incorporating the cost of Pixie 2 into. Thanks for your help.

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Permalink Reply by Kia Jones on April 24, 2009 at 6:48am

I am a first year teacher and I am also a first year computer lab teacher. I have about 800 students. I teach k-6. I have spent a lot of time gathering info on the net to help me with instruction. I am teaching the students computer literacy as well as the Office suite.
I have some really cool activities if you are interested.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremiah Olson on April 26, 2009 at 7:55pm

Kia,

I am always interested in learning about new activities. Please feel free to share. Thanks. I am doing a Photostroy with the 7th and 8th graders soon. It's going to be an autobiography type of thing. I am curious if anyone else has attempted an activity like this. I'm looking for steps to avoid.