Computer Education & Technology Integration in the AES Middle School
Coordinator: Ms. Dana Watts
Email: dwatts@aes.ac.in
Facilitator: Mr. Isaac Currey
Email: icurrey@aes.ac.in

Course Instructors:
Multimedia / Video Yearbook: Mr. Gagan Soni
Email: gsoni@aes.ac.in

Robotics:
Ms. Thaba Niedzwiecki
Email: tniedzwiecki@aes.ac.in

Ms. Anu Ahuja
Email: aahuja@aes.ac.in

In the Middle School, we guide students to become adaptive learners in a rapidly changing environment.  Our children live in an information landscape and we believe it is our mission to prepare students to become global citizens through the promotion and modeling of 21st century skills including collaboration, digital citizenship, creativity and self directed learning.

As an iPad 1:1 school, we believe iPads enhance and supplement student learning by creating interactive and dynamic opportunities to utilize critical thinking and allowing for differentiated learning experiences.  For AES students, iPads enable students to analyze information and become creators of content.  iPads are powerful personal learning devices that enable authentic integration of technology into classes and promotion of 21st century thinking and skills.

We operate under a full wireless coverage environment. The middle school offers the use of 180 laptops available for check out at our Tech Library. An additional 28 PC desktops are available in the MS Computer Lab.  All regular classrooms are fitted with ceiling mounted projection and also have interactive SMART Boards. Most teachers now work exclusively with laptops and iPads. Additionally, document cameras, digital still cameras, and FLIP video cameras are all available to teachers and students as needed.

Students learn technology skills best when the skills are not taught in isolation, but are integrated with the content being studied as part of their classwork. As a result of this trend, the middle school has integrated many of the technology skills formerly associated with computer classes into the core courses. With the help of a group of technology integration mentors a detailed plan of integration was developed. This plan includes the software applications that are presently being used in departments and classrooms to teach specific curricular course outcomes.

Additionally, the School wide Technology Program outcomes and MS course outcomes have been identified and help guide the projects being taught. The nature of technology is change, and in recognition of this we have a Technology Coordinator and part time Technology Facilitators to aid teachers in their integration efforts.