The Culbertson Technology Lab
Dr. Computer
Culbertson Elementary School

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Updated: Fri May 1 09:51:25 CDT 2009     Visits: 614     [ Print ] [ Refresh ] [ Classpages ]
The greatest minds in the world are contained in the students at Culbertson! To be permitted to interact with such genius is a cherished gift.
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Image file: nwalther.file3.1213888724.e.jpg

Shhhhhhhhh
Don't wake up the mice.
 (check out the mouse skills file below)
 
Welcome to Culbertson Technology Lab!
 
April was a very successful
ADOPT-A-CONVICT month in the LAB
In my home I  keep several aquariums . From time to time I find it necessary to give tropical fish away.  This was one of thse times!
I had  several hundred baby/juvenile Convict fish.  They are a South American cichlid and known for their fine parenting skills.  Below is a picture of a Convict cichlid.
Go to full-size image
I asked that parents desiring to permit their child to have a pair of cichlids send in a written note.
We have adopted out well over 80 fish at
Culbertson
That means almost 30 students at Culbertson are now fishkeepers, and have entered the bright, exciting world of  Icthyology.  Already one can hear the discussions and questions in the hallway.  The children are quickly learning what: over feeding, stress, water changes, ph level, fish compatability,  appropriate decoration in a fish tank, java moss, elodea, amonia level, Where did these snails come from?
Some students were the lucky surprise recipients of a very rare breed of Convict known as a Golden Convict. It took a great deal of research on their own to understand what they were.
 
To build tomorrows scientists one needs to provide them with opportunities to discover.  Opportunities that are fun, pleasureable and just makes them want to learn more.  Granted, the children will also learn aobut fish diseases and mortality.  I did choose fish to give away that are pretty hardy in most conditions.  Also sent each child home with several pages of instructions so parent and child could find this experience rewarding and pleasureable.  
Your child may be that Scientist in 20 or 25 years that discovers a vaccine, or a cure to a malady that plaques our world.  I would like to recommend the following books that fishkeepers
always enjoy perusing 
 
Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine    monthly   well worth the 27/yr
 
Dr. Axelrods Mini fish Atlas.....on Amazon you can buy a good used one for $5.00
 
The Complete Book of the Freshwater Aquarium: A Comprehensive guide to more than 600 Freshwater Fish and Plants by Vincent Hargreaves about $10 for used or new at Amazon
 
 
There will be no more Convict fish available till June.
If you look below you will see some pictures of 4 day old convict fry that will be  available for adoption in June.  They have to be bigger and able to be on their own first.
 
 
Convicts are a fun educational fish to watch grow and will bring your child many many years of scientific exploration topics.  They are very adaptive to a wide range of tank conditions but thrive best in a fish tank that is at least 10 gallons, filtered, heated to approximately 78 degrees and provided with a few terra cotta flowerpots in their fish tanks.  Convicts like to feel safe and need "ditherfish" in the tank with them so they feel safe.  A ditherfish is a fish that will joyfully swim around and not be scared if people walk by the tank.  Common dither fish are zebra danios, common guppies, cardinal tetra's, barbs.
Additional tank requirements are lighting, some plants you dont mind being nibbled on, gravel on the bottom (they like to dig) and a lid...they jump.
Feeding requirements are cichlid pellets that sink,  and for fun intermittent treats you may try: a little piece of thawed frozen spinach,  a piece of cucumber,  yellow zuchinni, a piece of apple, one or two ghost shrimp, a worm you use for fishing.  Basically, if the Convict does not eat it within a half hour, the Convict does not like it. 
 
The fish will grow to about 3 1/2 to 4inches long.  When they attain the age of 4-6 months you can then tell the boy convict form the girl convict. The boy convict is usually bigger.  The girl convict is usually smaller, a little wider, and more colorful.  As I said before convicts are wonderful fish, they mate for life. When and if the couple decides to have have baby convicts; you will see them become very protective of their flowerpot or other chosen place in the fish tank.  During this time period you will see the female convicts belly become very bright red, and the male fish will become darker and show all of his fins more frequently.  Somewhere inside the flowerpot the eggs will then be laid and stuck to a flowerpot edge.  Mom and Dad will take turns guarding the eggs and usually about 48 hours later theybegin to hatch.  Then for three days you will see both parents scurrying about protecting their fry and insuring their safety.  After the third day the fry (baby fish) will be able to swim and mom and dad Convict will guide their fry to places in the aqaurium to eat.  If either parent feels nervous or uneasy or frightened, they will guide their fry back to the nesting area.  sometimes to hurry this process along the parent fish will pick up the babies and carry them in their mouths to the next and then spit them out.  This process will take place until the parents feel the young fish are big enough to be on their own (usually a couple weeks).
 
Please understand these fish are native of South America and it is agaisnt federal law to release any pet fish into the waterways, this inlcudes flushing down a toilet, putting in a sink drain, letting loose in a sewer system, river, creek, lake, pond.  If after you have the fish you feel your family can no longer care for it, please contact Dr. Computer or take the fish to your local pet shop and ask them to care for the fish or assist you to find it a good home.
 Go to full-size image  Go to full-size image  Go to full-size image  Go to full-size imageArchocentrus nigrofasciatus - Convict cichlid 
There are some excellent web sites where you and your family may learn more about the wonderful world of fishkeeping, and South American Cichlids.  I highly recommend these locations with aparental supervision.  The  sites listed are intended for children age 12 and up: 
 
 

Greetings and Salutations to the greatest children in the world!

 

Kindergartners - Mrs. Reilly brings both AM and PM for weekly visits to the Technology Lab!  They also have four computers in the classroom that Mrs. Reilly has the children use for Earobics and other special projects.  The kindergartners are doing a tremendous job and are working very diligently on learning the basic use of the computer in a fun way.

 

First graders:  Come to the lab a minimum of once a week.  During this time the students have learned various computer skills.  This year the school log on procedure was changed drastically.  The children had to learn their student number, their own personal password and they had to be able to translate that into logging on to the computer.  Logging on:  entails a number of steps. Beginning with turning on the monitor,  depressing CTRL ALT Delete in the correct sequence, moving the mouse and deleting the prior persons log in information, correctly typing their own log in information, typing their, password that when you type only shows circles, Then they must have the patience to wait while the computer boots up with their  personal information. 

Every new website we visit has entailed the children typing in the URL, and setting that URL up on the favorites list. 

Every application the children have used has initially started with the START button, and learning step by step how to put a shortcut on their desktop.  WHEEEEEEEEEEEEW.........

In addition to all that the students will be using Spelling City in January. They have discovered and been taught Internet Safety, have developed mouse skills to include : double click, drag and drop, right click, scroll up, scroll down as well as general knowledge about the keyboard.  They surf the internet and are quite adept at reinforcing their reading knowledge at the GameGoo site (Check the Culbertson Library main page) 

 

Second Graders: All second graders visit the lab one time a day.  In addition to keyboarding skills the second graders have developed excellent applications skills in Microsoft Office, Kid Pix, as well as the ability to do some basic internet surfing.    So far the second graders have learned how to go to Spelling city and obtain their weekly spelling list, and use various programs at spelling city to assist them in studying their spelling words.  The students have written a published a variety of lantern poems. The students have developed mouse skills to the degree that they can with only the use of a mouse in free hand write sentences on the screen, and accurately draw a variety of geometric shapes.  Several second graders have researched answers to some very difficult questions aobut the Statue of Liberty and received the honor of being the Torch Bearer for the day.

 

Third Graders:  - All classes come to the lab once a week.  The students have developed Power point presentations, on various subjects, developed their keyboarding and mouse skills, have searched the internet.  Students have researched sedimentary formations, rocks, minerals, colonial occupations, and a variety of other areas. 

All third graders have the opportunity to use the mini-lab (6 student computers in the LGI Room) and the third grade teachers have the students using them frequently to fully integrate technology with their curriculum.  Several third graders have participated in answering various Statue of Liberty questions to win the honor of carrying the torch.

 

Fourth Graders:  Once a week every fourth grade class visits the lab for an hour.  Numerous things are accomplished during that time period. Students are introduced to new and exciting websites. Students work on various Microsoft Office Applications.  Students do research on a variety of projects.  Additionally, Fourth grade has a laptop cart for their usage and each class spends a significant amount of time every week using the laptop carts.

 

Fifth Grade classes have have a laptop cart with 8 laptops to use when their teacher's sign up.  All classes spend a significant amount of time on the Laptop's every week.  Every fifth grade class utilizes the Senteo Hand held student response system quite regularly. 

Yes we have a wish list please scroll down further

 

 

 

SUPER WEBSITES

vocabulary, and knowledge base.

 

  is a place for everyone.   This wonderful place is where you go to study a foreign language, vocabulary skills, math skills, even famous artists and you help the impoverished hungry people of the world at the same time.   Every question you get right earns you 20 grains of rice…that is donated to the United Nations Food Programs.   This site is outstanding and great for adults and children of all ages.   Younger ones will need some adult assistance but what a fun way to expand the WWW.FreeRice.Com,

 

SpellingCity banner As you may have read above, a number of classes are using www.SpellingCity.com.    This website is a wonderful way for your children to practice their weekly spelling words.  Please visit the site:  www.spellingcity.com  You may also get to this site via the Culbertson Library main page. WWW. Spellingcity.com 

WWW. netsmartz.org  Internet safety is one of our highest priorities within MNSD.  We at Culbertson have been utilizing this site  to reinforce internet safety with the children.   The site is manageable and designed for children and teens of all ages.  It has an excellent parent section that I highly recommend.  Take time to visit the site with your child.  Enjoy playing some of the games with your child to reinforce internet safety.

 is a terrific website to learn how to animate cartoons.   You can make your own animae cartoons and videos on this web site.   Parents, there is a variety of animae videos on this website that members have made, so you may wish to supervise your child’s usage.   However, this is also the best place to learn and practice animation skills without spending thousands on software. WWW.goanimate.com,

 

 

 

 

 

 

  The rumor is true:

If you heard a rumor that Dr. Computer wanders around the technology lab, the lunch room, hallways challenging students to find out the answer to various details or facts about something, it is true!   The  The first student to provide the correct answer is given the privilege of  anything from "carrying the torch for the day"  "taking Einstein (the action figure) home for a day" "earning a free iceream" or some other somewhat outrageous but fun thing. 

  

Challenges are designed to encourage students to do computer research, have fun, learn historic facts and stimulate academic discussion outside of the classroom. To say nothing of the rapport building!

 

Dr. Computer's favorite challenge subjects include: The Statue of Liberty, Albert Einstein, American Oddity's (largest bale of twine), Math Brain twisters, and Illogical logic. 

 Students can stop by the Tech Lab and check the door for the latest questions.

 

 

Information       for     Parents

SMART BOARDS

Currently Culbertson has a total of 7 Smart Boards.  Five travel to classrooms when the teachers sign up to use them.  The Technology Lab and the Library have permanently installed Smart Boards.  The five traveling Smart Boards are being utilized to their maximum capacity.  Every teacher in every grade uses the Smart boards as much as they possibly can.  The Smart Boards further enhance your child’s learning experience, help classes to become more interactive and allow teachers greater flexibility in addressing each child’s specific learning style.  Remember when you visit a classroom your child's teacher may not have the Smart Board in her/his classroom at that moment.  That does not mean that she/he does not use it. It just means another teacher had already signed up for it during that time period.  An average of five teachers shares every Smart Board. This means on average each teacher gets the Smart Board for one day a week.   

The Culbertson goal is to provide a Smart Board in every classroom including the learning support, Reading, Art, Music, and life skills, classrooms. This equates to 20 more Smart Boards required.  Things take time, as well as money.  In finances this equates to approximately $68,000.  Culbertson is doing everything possible to achieve this goal!

  HEADPHONES

Currently all Kindergartners, First, Second, Third, and fourth graders have been issued their very own brand new set of Headphones for use with the Computers in the classroom, as well as the Technology Lab.    

When the headphones are not in use they are stored in a completely sealed zippy bag. Lice require a human host to survive more than a day.  Therefore sealing the zip bags eliminates lice on the headphones without the use of chemicals.

Next year when the children are promoted to their next grade level they will take their headphones with them for continued use.

Currently, the Technology Lab has a box of 30 headphones for classes who do not have their own set of headphones.  The headphones are stored individually in a sealed zippy bag when they are not in use.

Please note we can only afford to provide each child with one pair of headphones.  They are expensive and we try to encourage the children to take extra special care of them.  Unfortunately, things do break, please read the donations list.  Donated new headphones

 

 
DONATIONS         DONATIONS

Donations to the Culbertson technology lab are always appreciated. 

Please if you wish to help the Culbertson Lab feel free to donate technology supplies.  We are always in desperate need of:  

Blank DVD-R  or CD-R discs

USB Printer Cords

RJ45 cables (internet cables) 3' 6' 12' in length

S-Video Cables  20' or more in length

HP Inkjet Cartridges - numbers 21, 22, 27, 56, 57, 58, 74, 75,95,  96, 97, 98 are always in desperate need

Flash Drives - 1G or larger 

Clorox Wipes - Keyboards have more germs and bacteria on them than a toilet seat.  Help me keep the keyboards clean for your children.

Hand Sanitizer - We touch the children's hands a great deal in the technology lab to assist them in their mouse skills, finding the correct key etc.  Help us not spread colds.

Tissues - With 4 or more classes each day we go through a lot of tissues in the Technology Lab.  Prefer that tissues as well as the box are made from recycled products. 

1 gallon size Zippy bags with the Zipper.  Every student that comes into the Technology Lab at least once a week is given his/her own set of headphones.  Using a Zippy Bag (as described) to store them in insures that any head lice are killed as well as providing a safe place for storage.  (see parent's note about headphones)

Headphones -  with individual volume control are always appreciated.

 

Please do not buy any equipment, ( you may donate supplies but equipment is not allowed) the MNSD Board and the IT Dept of MNSD require that all technology purchases go thru them. 

This means, please do not go out and buy: computers, SmartBoards, Software, Hand held student response devices, keyboards or mice.  We will not be allowed to use, or install it if it is not directly purchased by the MNSD IT Department.  This is to insure that standardized procedures and recommendations are followed.

If an organization such as the PTO would like to provide money for equipment purchases please speak with Mr. Cook and Dr. Computer so we can insure that the funds provided and the object that the funds would be used to purchase is an approved object.  The purchase request would then be sent through to the IT department so the purchase may be made through their approved vendors and the object would meet the IT purchase standards.

 

 The following information was copied from the EIA Kids page:

Did You Know that Energy Vampires Lurk in your House?

You might think that vampires only come out at night or during Halloween. Well, guess what? They are everywhere, all of the time, working 24 hours a day, using energy at your house; and they are adding some 20 percent each month to the amount your family pays for energy.

Vampire energy is a type of energy used by things that consume electricity twenty-four hours a day, even when they are turned off or not being used. TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers/printers, stereos, microwaves, coffee machines, washers/dryers, rechargeable power tools, etc. are the everyday secret users of vampire energy. You think you have turned them off, but they are still running.

In fact, did you know that a TV with a remote could use more energy during the 20 hours it is turned off waiting for you to turn it on than it does while you are watching it for 4 hours in the evening? And don't forget about those little clocks on microwaves and VCRs--with every blinking second, they, too, are using vampire energy and adding to your parent's monthly energy bill.

According to energy experts, the amount of energy used by these vampire consumers can add up quickly. Vampire energy amounts to about five percent of energy consumed in the United States and usually costs consumers more than $3 billion each year.

So, what can you do?

  ·  Start by unplugging appliances directly from wall outlets when not in use. Instead of turning your electronic devices off one-at-a-time, make the job easier by plugging all of your electronics into a power strip or two and "switch off" the power strip after you have finished using the item(s). (Don't worry; this will not harm your electronics.)

Screen Savers are ENERGY WASTERS!  

 If you are not going to be using your computer for a while and don't want to shut it down, simply turn off your monitor. Screen savers do not reduce the amount of energy used! 

This site is always
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
and changes frequently!
 
 
 



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