Merrillville at Cutting Edge of Educational Technology The Merrillville School Corporation is at the cutting edge of educational technology.

Computerized instruction, assessment and individual skills in the use of technology for information, research and communication are present on a daily basis in Merrillville classrooms. MCSC has over 4300 computers (ratio of 1 PC to every 1.6 students) located throughout all of our buildings in classrooms, labs, offices and media centers. 22 computer labs at MHS 10 computer labs at the Freshman Center 12 computer labs at Pierce 9 computer labs at MIS Elementary schools have 3 computer labs each except for Iddings and Salk which have 5. MCSC operates 45 servers that provide applications and student folders for saving of their work. Technology is used to assess, collect and analyze student data to diagnose student needs, analyze student performance, and report and display student achievement to prescribe instructional services to ensure student success and progress. We use computer based on-line testing for End-of-Course Assessments and Core40. Additionally during spring 2009, MCSC participated in the on-line version of ISTEP+ to test all 8th graders and was a regional training center for area schools. We also use Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) software to measure, track and remediate reading skills for grades 2-12. This is part of a corporate wide emphasis on the improvement of reading abilities across all content areas. Read180 is another Scholastic Reading program used for struggling readers at grades 5-8. Acuity is used throughout the year to monitor our students progress in the learning of Indiana Academic Standards that are assessed during ISTEP. FastForWord Research on brain activity resulted in the FastForWord product by Scientific Learning used throughout MCSC to strengthen memory, attention, processing rate and sequencing. Compass Software - used in Grades K-6 for remediation and enrichment in Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science Why Try Instructional program provides simple, hands-on solutions for dropout prevention, violence prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, truancy reduction and anti-bullying prevention. PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support) used at MCSC to encourage positive interaction among students. Classrooms All classrooms have televisions connected to the teacher computers that are used to show instructional videos from our Safari Montage video server, provide access to cable TV and to also show students applications (PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) and internet pages from the teacher classroom computer. High Tech Classroom Project: MCSC has 4 station student computer pods in every classroom from Grades 1-6. Software on these computer pods allows for both remediation and enrichment in all subject areas. In addition to the computer pods, we have presentation and teaching software for our Classrooms-of-the-Future that includes document cameras, projectors, and remote control of the teacher PC that is shared to the class either on the TV screen or a projected image. Students swipe their ID card at the cafeteria point of sale terminals to debit their pre-paid lunch balances. These same cards are also used in the media centers to check out books.

Merrillville Community Planetarium at Pierce Middle School is equipped with a domed ceiling and a special projector that projects stars on the dome, giving the audience the illusion of looking up at the night sky. Slides, movies, videos, special effects, lasers, special audio and a brand new digital presentation system are all used present shows in the planetarium theater. Every student in Grades K-6 participates in multiple astronomy lessons every year at the Merrillville Planetarium.

to

MCSC uses an out-calling telephone system that allows daily absence reports, school closings and other time sensitive information to be relayed to all staff, students and parents at MCSC in less than an hour. Award winning Pirate News Network (PNN) television production studio is now located at the Freshman Center and involves students in the filming, producing, and editing of high definition video. Teaching of foreign languages at MHS is assisted by 3 computer labs running Genesis software that allows collaboration between and within students and teachers and total control of all the computers by the teacher. Electronic collaboration tools for students: Moodle is being used by students to take an active part in classroom activities from home. This software allows collaboration with their teachers and fellow students in class discussions and provides electronic submitting of assignments. Moodle features and encourages the use of Web2.0 applications in education such as wikis, blogs, RSS feeds, on-line forums, discussions groups and chat rooms in a teacher moderated, internet safe environment. Students in grades K-8 experience a technology applied skills curriculum to ensure they receive the computer skills necessary to succeed in high school, college and the future workplace. Training of our Teachers in Technology: Every summer we offer the MCSC Summer Workshop Series in Technology to provide continuing training in how to use new technologies in the classroom. MCSC teachers use electronic gradebooks in grades K-12. Teachers can access their gradebook from home or school. Parents can access their childrens grades, attendance, discipline records, state test scores and medical records from home via our Parent Access software On-line calendar of events provides parents a way to subscribe to an up-to-date listing of school events and be automatically notified of events their children are involved in. We fully embrace the role of the internet to provide supplemental and primary student and teacher resources both at school and at home. Merrillville provides a 90mb internet connection for access to educational websites. Approximately 80% of our students have home internet capability and we offer many options for students to further their learning away from the classroom.

Merrillville Schools continues its leadership role in education with the use of cutting edge technology to enhance instruction. Students and staff are able to take advantage of a myriad of technology resources on a daily basis that enhance their learning and truly make MCSC a school of choice for 21st Century Instruction.