A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Technology and Education Reform: Technical Research Report - August 1995

Bay Vista Elementary School

Context. Bay Vista Elementary School is located in a working-class neighborhood of homes and apartments along the border between two Western cities. Many of the students' parents are employed in industries related to the nearby airport. Of the 575 students, approximately 25% are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and 11% are identified as limited or non-English proficient. Sixty-seven percent of the students are Asian/Pacific Islander; 12% are Hispanic; 11% are Caucasian, Non-Hispanic; 9% are African-American; and 1% are Native American. Nineteen certified teachers serve on Bay Vista's faculty. Although Bay Vista is in a modest neighborhood, teachers estimate that over 50% of the students have computers in their homes.

Reform History. The technology innovations at Bay Vista were initiated by a tightly knit core of teachers who were early computer users convinced of technology's capabilities to promote students' higher-order thinking. Bay Vista's principal supported the teachers' willingness to take advantage of district-offered training in technology and grant writing. After several teachers took a computer class in 1979, they applied for Chapter 2 funds to purchase a computer for the school. Impressed, the principal set the goal of getting as many students on computers as possible. The school pursued technology through the district's Computer Cadre, as well as through state funding for a project to analyze software for activities that would promote the thinking skills addressed in Bay Vista's problem-solving curriculum in grades 4-6.

By 1983, all 19 of Bay Vista's teachers were active computer users. Building on their technology experience and the science expertise of one of the teachers, Bay Vista successfully competed for a state Level II Model Technology Schools (MTS) grant in science. The program Bay Vista developed, Technology Optimizes Performance in Science (TOPS), extends throughout the elementary school (K-6). The grant supported a project coordinator position shared by two teachers, a central repository for science software and curriculum materials, special activities, and professional development.

Reform Features. Bay Vista stands out in the degree of coherence of its approach and its integration of technology across grade levels and subject areas. A significant influence has been the state curriculum frameworks that urge higher-order thinking, constructivist teaching and learning approaches, and cross-disciplinary projects. Bay Vista teachers have been active in many of the state reform initiatives, including the state science project and development and field testing of science and math portions of a statewide performance-based assessment system. Bay Vista teachers also participated in the state's Technology Leadership Academy for science and social science and the Educational Technology Summit. In keeping with state frameworks, the TOPS project emphasizes hands-on science and integration of science with other parts of the curriculum.

Although Bay Vista has not attempted major changes in its basic structure (such as multi-age grouping), the functioning and climate of the school have been significantly affected by TOPS activities. By supporting the project coordinator position and a project room, featuring an area set up for hands-on science activities (as well as a software library and 14 networked PCs), TOPS has provided opportunities for teachers to observe and support each other's work in conducting project-based and technology-supported activities. The technology coordinator may team teach a lesson with the regular teacher; alternatively, she may take over the class while the regular teacher observes a technology-using teacher at Bay Vista or elsewhere.

In a typical lesson, a third-grade teacher introduced her class to the topic of biological decay in a whole-class discussion format, using the chalkboard to write down key concepts. She reinforced these concepts with images and video clips from a laser disc attached to a large monitor (an apple decomposing and a graphic close-up of a dead rat swelling and exploding). A Micro/Macro video projection system was used to show living bacteria collected from classroom air molecules. On the next day, the theme was followed up in the project room, where the teacher and the technology coordinator conducted hands-on explorations of classroom bacteria.

Bay Vista classes have access also to computers in "mobile labs"--Macintoshes on wheeled carts. In one fifth-grade class, students worked on multimedia HyperStudio science and language arts presentations using word processing programs, microphones to record sound, draw programs or Kid Pix to create graphics, and a Canon Xap Shot Still Video Camera attached to a Macintosh to import photographs. While half of the 32 students collaborated in small groups at computers around the room's perimeter, the other half work individually at their desks. At the bell, teams of four students, quite serious about their charge, gingerly shepherded the computer carts safely to the next classroom, supervised by the "step monitor" who guided the teams down the classroom steps and made sure that a tarp protected the computers in the rain.

In general, the opportunities for teachers to observe one another have led to more consistency and connections across classrooms. Many teachers use the same group structures and role assignments for small-group lessons. Articulation within and between grade levels is reinforced by teachers' frequent references to the content and activities of other classes and grades.

Technology Supports. Bay Vista illustrates the strength of home-grown expertise. A core of teachers took it on themselves to become knowledgeable about computers and their instructional applications. With the support of the district, the staff have been aggressive and successful in going after state grants to fund the technology coordinator position and in-service training and release time. The commitment and ever-increasing knowledge of this core group overcame the trepidation of more timid colleagues and the shifting agendas of multiple principals.

Outcomes. In its Model Technology Schools Self Study, Bay Vista documents improved achievement in science content as measured by the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) and on a test of basic process skills in science (BAPS). Increased motivation was noted when nearly all sixth-graders completed science projects, and 9 of 13 students won awards in the county science fair, when no students had even entered in previous years. Student surveys showed that 65% of students thought that technology had improved their problem-solving, writing, and reading skills. A majority also said that use of technology led to higher grades, more enjoyment of classes, and improved ability to work with others. Teachers reported that students appeared to take more responsibility for their own learning.


-###-

[4. Case Study Profiles] [Table of Contents] [East City High School ACOT Program]