1. Growing a Middle School Technology Program – from stone tools to excel certification
Alex Insaurralde, Chief Academic Officer, MIT Academy
Matt Smith, Superintendent/Director, MIT Academy
February 24, 2017

2. Mare Island Technology Academy
An urban 6-12 school-wide Title I charter school of 900 students, 60% free/reduced meal eligible. Winner of six state-wide awards for academic excellence, twice named US News “One of America’s Best High Schools,” and a California “Schools to Watch” model school.

3. technology We have 30 computers/stations in each classroom
Most classrooms have a virtual desktop (VDI)
Many have a classroom set of Chromebooks (and growing)
Some have desktop computers

4. Pair-Share:
What is the technology situation at your school and how do you develop technology proficiency in your students? What are your goals?

5. Middle school technology
Start with 6th graders who typically have very little experience with , using the internet safely, and applications (but usually have a lot of experience playing games). End at 8th grade with Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications in…
PowerPoint
Word
Excel

7. The process – How do you get Mos certification from here?
Develop a roadmap for technology proficiency
Projects that develop and extend basic concepts
GMetrix
Certiport

8. The mit academy technology sequence

9. Some representative middle school projects
6th Grade / Tech 6:
Build a stone tool / build circuits / visit Computer History Museum in Mountain View
7th Grade / Tech 7:
RPGMaker – Interactive game
Video (edited in Premiere) on a special Innovator in History
GMetrix tutorials on Word & Powerpoint
Certiport certification in Word & Powerpoint
8th Grade / Tech 8:
Create video game (and accompanying trailer) in RPGMaker
Various Photoshop projects
Create personal website (using Dreamweaver) on the Solar System.
GMetrix & Certiport (Excel)

10. Sample excel project
Screenshot of an actual student skill-builder project in Excel. In Tech 8 students do 2 week-long skill builder projects in class with directed learning before login to GMetrix Training Exams suite.

11. “GMETRIX” And “Certiport”
GMetrix Video: Certiport Video:

12. Costs, hurdles, & Known issues
Costs, hurdles, and known issues
Certiport license = $6,075 / year, up to 1,000 test attempts ($6 / test)
GMetrix practice test site = $2,075
Chromebooks

13. Costs, hurdles, & Known issues – Reality check
Year
Course
PowerPoint:
Word:
Excel:
Total: 75
Total: 80
PowerPoint: 9
Word: 2
Excel: 4
Total: 15

14. Pair-share
What are some takeaways from this presentation?

15. Questions?

16. Thank You! Alex Insaurralde: ainsaurralde@mitacademy.org
Matt Smith:
MIT Academy: (707)