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Principal Bakr provided a brief overview of tonight's presentation on the Rockets <br /> Help Desk which is made up of student led tech teams. These teams assist <br /> teachers and students on the use of technology and applications. He turned the <br /> meeting over to RMHS teacher Kerry Gallagher. <br /> Ms. Gallagher talked about the mission of the Rockets Help Desk which in part is <br /> to leverage student curiosity and creativity for the benefit of the Reading Public <br /> Schools community. Students strive to solve real world problems in a school <br /> setting and create media that teaches the public. <br /> Mrs. Webb arrived at 7:05 p.m. <br /> Methods used to carry out this mission are done through the creation of tutorials, <br /> classroom visits and networking. Ms. Gallagher then turned the meeting over to <br /> her students Megan Catalano and Julia Donohue. <br /> Ms. Catalano described how tutorials are used. Teachers and students can request <br /> informational screencasts and videos. Once created, these are typically <br /> accompanied by a blog post and some easy to view screenshots. Ms. Catalano <br /> shared a screencast Prezi tutorial she created in response to a request from a <br /> science teacher. <br /> Ms. Donohue said members of the Rockets Help Desk recently visited a fifth <br /> grade classroom at Barrows to work with the students in creating Google graphs. <br /> Help Desk members can go to classrooms district-wide to assist teachers in <br /> deploying new technology allowing the teacher to concentrate on content and <br /> class management. <br /> Ms. Catalano then touched on networking opportunities. Help Desk members <br /> recently attended and presented at the MassCue Conference in Foxboro. They <br /> have also presented at the Blue Ribbon Conference. Networking allows the <br /> members to meet with other technology specialists through a variety of mediums <br /> which include professional presentations, Google Hangouts with tech teams, or <br /> any other medium as suggested by the Help Desk team or advisor. The students <br /> shared a video chat with Swaroop Raju of Educanon. During this video chat the <br /> team members were able to ask questions of Mr. Raju. Networking provides <br /> opportunities to share and learn about the strides in technology all over the <br /> country and world. <br /> The Rockets Help Desk also offers in person consultation which allows anyone in <br /> the RMHS community to talk one-on-one with a student of the Help Desk. <br /> Members of the Help Desk can answer simple questions about an application or <br /> more complex questions on technology and how to use it effectively in their class. <br /> English Department Head Mike McSweeney was one of the first to take <br /> advantage of this service inquiring about methods for his students to effectively <br /> document and share in preparation for an upcoming unit in journalism. Mr. <br /> McSweeney was able to brainstorm ideas with the Help Desk members. <br /> Ms. Gallagher said that currently the Rocket Help desk is a volunteer activity. <br /> Next year the Rocket Help desk will become a semester elective with credit <br /> towards a business requirement for graduation. She also shared that she has <br /> Page 12 <br />