Techsperts Academy

Elementary School students in Grades 4-6 may apply to participate in year-long advanced technology studies in the after school TechSperts Academy. TechSperts are selected through an application process and are required to attend training sessions after school twice a month with the Director of Instructional Technology.

Using NetSmartz.org materials provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Techsperts learn how to be experts in Internet safety skills and knowledge, as well as how to provide technical support to their classrooms when computers, digital cameras, and other equipment and software is being used.

Congratulations to the 2011-2012 TechSperts!

This year, we are:

1. …Blogging our experiences with Scratch on Ms. Radden’s blog.
   Click here to read our blog > >

2. …Meeting twice a month from 3:30-4:30 in the Media Center.
   4th graders meet on Tuesdays. 5th and 6th graders meet on Wednesdays.
   Click here to view this year’s calendar of meetings > >

3. …Learning how to stay safe online.
   Click here to learn how to Use Your NetSmartz > >

4. …Making games by learning how to Scratch!
   Click here to view our Scratch games > >

5. Getting to know our Blake Buddies in an Intergeneration Epals Program!

Techsperts also learn programming skills and knowledge through the use of  Scratch, a programming language developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, (http://scratch.mit.edu/). The Techsperts use Scratch to create their own games and interactive stories featuring the cybersafety tips they learned. At the end of the school year, the Techsperts participate in International Scratch Day at M.I.T. where they can share and celebrate their skills!

SY 2010-2011 Academy Highlights

The 4th, 5th and 6th grade TechSperts attended International Scratch Day at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge on May 21, 2011. They had fun exploring new ways to use Scratch software to program Lego robots and make their own joysticks using a Pico Board. Many of our TechSperts stepped up onto the stage to share their Scratch games and skills to the audience of Boston students, parents, and MIT Media Lab researchers. It was a super fun day!

Enjoy our slide show:

The TechSperts attend Scratch Day at the MIT Media Lab from Boston Renaissance on Vimeo.

The TechSperts completed their Internet Safety Scratch games and were able to share them on Scratch Day.

Check them out below and at our Scratch site:

http://scratch.mit.edu/users/techsperts

 

Enjoy some of last year’s Techsperts’ Internet Safety Scratch projects:

by Ayahna and Melvin

by Tony and Rayshawn

Click here for Instructional Technology news and announcements >