STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

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If there’s one thing that holds true for the Tri-Lakes Region, it’s that we have some of the most enthusiastic group of teachers in new YorkState..  and you can’t help but see the excitement of teachers in different departments throughout the region…  In SaranacLake,  we didn’t have much trouble finding another teachers happy to speak with the board about their curriculum, their approach to students and their personal research and growth –  Joe Merrihew teached 6th 7th and 8th graders at Petrova Middle School in SaranacLake…   He’s been asked to speak about a seminar he attended sponsored by Honneywell which focused on the question of corporations, and the engineering model for the future… <<<< CLICK HERE TO LISTEN – 092412 – Engineering in the Classroom at Petrova Elementary School >>>> One real advantage of the Petrova library is that it has by design a 20 feet by twenty feet white wall which is designed to become a projector or a movie screen along with a projector designed to be used by teachers, library staff and others for the purpose of making presentations on a larger scale…  essentially a well thought out use of space and technology, which is of course what he’s teaching in many cases.. and while it does take a few minutes to warm up,  the projection fills the wall with details and pictures of his trip along with the details of the Engineering by Design program which his students are learning..

K&J SHOW – Technology Plan at Lake Placid Schools

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Picture yourself standing in front of a line of computers at Best Buy, or Target, Wal Mart, your local neighborhood computer store… trying to decide which piece of technology is going to be right for you, There are at least 10 or 12 choices of laptops, and another 4 or 5 desktop versions and each has a completely different price point from $300 all the way to one or two thousand.. and then there’s the row of flat screen monitors, all different of course, and a row or two of peripherals like modems, extra keyboards and mice, special removable hard drives, the wireless routers we use to connect to the internet, oh and then we can’t forget ink and printers, and network hubs, the wire, and then in the isle next to that, about 100 different choices of programs all screaming “Buy Me” with big colorful boxes… Ok –  So we’re in the store and even the advice we get from sales staff only makes the job of deciding what we need more difficult right… because they always give you like at least two or three reasons why each of these things could be the right one… AUDIO – 091912 – K&J SHOW – LP Technology Draft Three Year Plan And now picture a committee consisting of 12 members of theLake PlacidCentralSchoolSystem…  Just so you don’t feel so overwhelmed the next time you find yourself thinking you need to upgrade keep in mind that even some of our local school systems are having a tough time identifying the needs and the costs associated with the concept of keeping up with technology…  This is Superintendent Randy Richards… (Speaking at the Meeting) A new phone system for example – and manuals in French for example…   The Draft Three Year District Technology Plan is 98 pages… Richard’s Presentation to the board – an hour and 5 minutes..   The bottom line – According to the report, there are 14 conditions essential to effectively leveraging technology for learning  including a Shared Vision, Empowering Leaders, Implementation Planning, Funding, Access, Skilled Personell, Learning and Technical Support, Curriculum Framework, Student Centered Learning, Assessment and Evaluation, Community Engagement, and others… There’s one thing that everyone agrees on and could easily be picked out of the presentations… The School needs new Mobile Computer Carts complete with the appropriate equipment to provide for the needs of educators working with students in the classroom so that when needed, they can roll the carts in – hand out the laptops and refer everyone to the particular topic – whether it’s programming, use of the computer, or accessing an online reference…

Training for Alcohol Intervention Procedures offered at Plattsburgh State

A Free Training program is offered through local sheriffs offices and STOP-DWI programs along with several additional drug and alcohol task forces… The Groups are inviting restaurants, hotels, bars, nightclubs and all on-premise liquor license holders to participate in the Training for Intervention Procedures program… It’s called TIPS for short and the program is being offered free of charge.. TIPS, is a dynamic skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, drunk driving and underage drinking. The program enhances the fundamental “people skills” of servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol.

Elementary Playground to Re-open with new plans and a call for volunteers

 LPCS Elementary Playground Re-Opening October 10th  A new plan is in place for reopening theLake PlacidElementary Schoolplayground.. The plan includes zoned areas for grade K-2 and 3-5, and a new 10 seat swing, new hill slides and a new sandbox and the installation of ten to twelve inches of processed wood chip fiber, which will replace the current sand surface. Now in the final stages of the plan, Lake Placid’s School district is asking for  volunteers to help stake out the area, drill holes, and sort parts on Friday, October 5th.