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Mueller is pleased to offer a variety of technology pieces to support the learning process.
The Computer Lab provides
time for teachers to take their classrooms to work on the computers
for reading, math, social science, and skill reinforcement. It
is currently being networked to include internet connections,
software programs for classroom teachers, and research access
to meet our Campus Improvement Plan's reading
and writing strategies.
Computers, cable television, and VCRs have been added to every classroom. We continuously work on our technology plan that allows students to access
the internet in EVERY classroom, make their own video productions
through the library media center, and play instructional videos
back to every classroom through TVs. Teachers are learning how
to use their computers for software, the internet, and in developing
student projects.
Student
TV Broadcasting is a project that uses our televisions, VCR's, and cablevision.
Students have started learning how to make their
own TV broadcasts. Each Friday morning, students are in charge
of broadcasting the weekly Mueller news that other students watch throughout
the school.
Our students are producing high quality
video, audio, and graphic files from our Student
TV Broadcasting, and Musical programs, that we would like to share with our web visitors.
The files are so large that to view them with your web browser
takes a long time to download.
Streaming media is a way to
push those large files to the viewer on demand which means you can begin to view them
as they come to your computer instead of waiting for the entire
file to download. Streaming media is more of a continuous connection.
Much like TV or listening to the radio, you receive the images
or audio just before you see or hear them. StreamingVoices.com
is encoding our large media files to be viewed using RealPlayer. This is an additional program
that works with your web browser that you can download for free.
Our
library computer research stations are up and running. Students can now come to the library to look
up teacher directed internet sites for researching. Meanwhile, we have been
using our eight library computers as teaching stations for students and teachers
to learn more about technology.
To complement students' understanding and appreciation of music, Mueller installed a Music
Keyboard Lab complete with adult sized Clavinova keyboards.
The Clavinova keyboards are full-sized, digitalized, keyboard
systems complete with student/teacher headphones, soundboards,
piano touch, and recording abilities. The music teacher's console
is electronically connected to each student's keyboard and, using
the master console, the teacher can listen and talk to individuals
or the whole group at any time. The teacher's console is also
programmed for the teacher to play keyboard music with the students,
to play a background tape from the curriculum, or to record student/teacher
work.
Mueller Mindstorms LEGO; Robotics
Invention Teams is a
unique approach to teaching math and problem solving using technology
and the hands-on constructionist approach. Students meet in teams during their lunch period
twice a week for six weeks. Each team, led by a coach,
uses the LEGO; Mindstorms Robotics Invention System
(RIS) to design, build, and program their own autonomous robots.
The LEGO; Mindstorms RIS includes a powerful microcomputer
called The RCX that acts as the brain of the robot. The RCX stores
and executes programs that are written using a PC, then downloaded
into the RCX via an infrared port. The RCX uses motors and sensors
to react to its environment.