[IMC] Kenwood Elementary School to Host Parent Computer Workshops as Part of New Technology Focus

[Stephanie Stuart]

Kenwood Elementary School will host a "Demystifying the Computer" workshop series September 23-27 for parents as part of a school-wide technology initiative. The series, which will take place over the school's upcoming intersession, will allow parents to work with Professor Dr. Martin Wolske and his students from the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS). Participants will take apart and reassemble a computer, learn about software, and ultimately take home a personal computer-all free of charge, courtesy of GSLIS.

"We are looking for ways to infuse technology into the classroom, but we also know that access at home is imperative to our students' digital literacy," said Superintendent Dr. Judy Wiegand. "This collaboration with the University of Illinois and Kenwood is one way that we're looking to build that capacity for students at the elementary school level. Connecting the experts in our community with students and families is a recipe for our collective success in the future."

Kenwood has adopted a new school mission this school year: Technology and Literacy for the Community (TLC). The school is the first elementary school in the District to bring the Etoys computer programming software to the classroom as part of a collaboration with Illini For Kids, the University of Illinois Office for Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering (MSTE) and the University of Illinois College of Education. The program has also been adopted at the District's three middle schools. Kenwood teachers were trained over the summer on how to use Etoys and developed strategies to use when introducing students to computer programming concepts at a young age.

Kenwood's building will undergo renovation during the 2014-2015 school year that will update the building's technology infrastructure, in addition to updated classroom spaces, a new gymnasium, a secured front entrance, and updated administrative spaces.

District Instructional Technology Coaches will also be on hand for the upcoming training session. "Demystifying the Computer" is open to all Kenwood parents and guardians, and those interested can find out more by contacting the school.

Stephanie Stuart
Community Relations Coordinator
Champaign Unit #4 School District
217-531-0252

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