Students to take the reins at Notre Dame's first Student Technology Showcase on May 1.
Notre Dame Prep was the first school in Michigan to be designated a Dassault Systemes Academic Certification Center. Dassault is a French company that developed CATIA (computer-aided three-dimensional interactive application), a multi-platform software suite for engineering and design.
"We want to share with our community how technology is enhancing all of the learning that is taking place in the classroom and how it's improving technical skills for all our students," Konja said. "The kids are driving this event. They will be showing off technologies within the Apple, Google and Microsoft platforms, and will demonstrate other ways technology is affecting the way the students learn, including robotics, green-screen and coding, to name only a few."
Konja added that he's hoping that parents from both prospective and current families will be able to attend.
"We also are asking current students not involved in any of the demonstrations to come by and check out the showcase," he said. "However, the evening has been designed primarily to give current and prospective parents the opportunity to see all the ways that technology is or could be used to enhance their children’s learning at NDPMA."
The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, with remarks by NDPMA Head of School Andy Guest and an introduction by Konja. Hors d’ouvres and beverages will be available during the evening, which is expected to wrap up around 7:30 p.m.
The following preliminary agenda has been set up for the May 1 event:
Marist Academy (lower school)
– Spheros and Ollies using the iPad (robots)
– Newscasters
– Keynote presentation software and animations
– Clip videos
– Stop-motion videos
– Class technology projects
Marist Academy (middle school)
– MinecraftEDU
– Explain Everything used during March Reading Month
– Canva graphic-design tool – shoe creation
– MakerSpace and 3D printing
– Flipped video lessons: OneNote Class Notebook app
– Projectile motion in the robotics lab using WeVideo
– Designing and building websites
Notre Dame Preparatory School:
– TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools): computer science class
– CATIA software (CAD classes)
– Working with Book Creator in Spanish classes
– Canva
– Storyboard That
– OneNote class notebooks
– MobileSheets: (Android sheet music reader) used in band classes
– Micro:bit: handheld, programmable micro-computer
– Clubs and other extracurriculars
– Cyber Patriot team
– Girls Who Code club
– Robotics (FIRST Robotics)
For Konja, he's hoping to make the showcase an annual event because he believes it's important to keep the school community up-to-date on the constantly changing educational technology landscape.
"We sometimes take technology use for granted as it has become such an integral part of our lives," he said. "An event like this gives our Notre Dame family a great opportunity to see first-hand how it has changed our learning environment. Technology skills are vital to the future of our students and I am excited to be able to have them share all the the skills they've gained here on campus."
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NOTRE DAME'S INFORMATION AND ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower schools enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three Notre Dame schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org