5300 Highway 162 South Covington, Georgia 30016 | Phone:(770)784-4987 Fax:(770)784-4988

Welcome to the Computer Lab...

Big changes are underway at Rocky Plains!!

Beginning this year, we will embark on some dramatic changes in the Computer Lab. We believe everyone will welcome, and benefit from, the new changes, especially our students.
This year, responsibility for lesson planning during Computer Lab times will alternate between the classroom teacher and Computer Lab parapro.

During LAB LESSON time, we will be teaching beginning computer skills for grades one and two. Topics covered will include keyboarding basics, creating, saving and renaming files and folders; using cut, copy and paste; web browsing and using simple Windows programs such as Notepad, WordPad and Paint.
For grades three, four and five, we will be teaching Microsoft PowerPoint 2007. This is the simplest of the Microsoft Office programs, is the most enjoyable to learn and use, and skills learned within PowerPoint are transferable to other computer programs.

During TEACHER LESSON time, teachers will present technology-based lessons, taught to GPS standards. For 3rd and 5th grades, ALL lessons will be CRCT-driven: Math, English and Language Arts. Teachers will have access to an ActivBoard, the latest classroom technology, to help make their lessons come alive.

Programs we will use:

Grades One and Two: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (version 16), the Windows XP operating system, and simple programs found within Windows (any version), such as Notepad, WordPad and Microsoft Paint.

Grade Three, Four and Five: Microsoft PowerPoint 2007.

Parents: if you already have any version of Microsoft PowerPoint, your kids will probably be able to quickly adapt and figure out how to accomplish tasks in PowerPoint 2007 and the older version. If you're looking to make an investment, however, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 is available for just over $100 and includes Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and Microsoft OneNote. If that is too much right now to spend, you can download OpenOffice, a free suite of productivity programs which includes Impress, a program that create "presentations" similar to PowerPoint. Be warned though, It is a huge download. Contact me if you can't download files this large and I'll work with you to get you a copy of the program somehow.

Computer Lab Rules...

Enter lab quietly
Don't touch ANYTHING without using hand sanitizer first
Log on to the computer
Sit and wait for directions (do not click or open anything)
Do not talk
Keep headphone volume low
Stop IMMEDIATELY when told to do so
Close out all programs first, then log off the computer
Place headphones back on computer tower when finished
Push in your chair
Leave room quietly
NEVER attempt to adjust settings on the computer or monitor

Consequences...

First Time--Verbal Warning
Second Time--Off computer for remainder of class/sit on floor till class is over/try again next week

Computer Lab Schedule...

WKAT Cougar News...

One of the highest honors a 5th Grader at Rocky Plains Elementary can receive is nomination for participation in the WKAT Cougar News television program. Fourteen students are divided into two rotating crews and are responsible for presenting a 15 minute daily, live news broadcast to the approximately 900 students and adults who comprise the Rocky Plains family. Only 5th Graders with the highest academic, attendance and behavioral accomplishments are invited to participate. Most Cougar News crew members will also be found on the "A" and "A/B" Honor Rolls and in the Junior Beta Club.

Students take weekly turns operating television cameras, reading the School Menu, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and leading the singing of the National Anthem, being "Scripper Flipper" (script prompter for those on camera) and serving as Co-Anchors reading the daily Rocky Plains Elementary news and announcements. In addition, two students are selected near year-end to train on and operate the actual production equipment that synchronizes television cameras, PowerPoint presentations, DVD presentations, guest announcers, etc... on the air.

Certs...

Since I was mostly incapacitated over the summer (broken ankle), I spent my time studying for and passing a number of computer certifications in Microsoft Office 2007.

I'm now a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Instructor. To do this, I took and passed the following exams: Microsoft Office Excel 2007, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007, Microsoft Office Word 2007 and Windows Vista for the Business Worker. There are currently only four Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Instructors in the state of Georgia.

This is the fourth Instructor certification I have earned from Microsoft. I am also a Master Instructor in Office 97, Office 2000 and Office 2002/XP. Here is my complete certification list.