Technology Tools
Frankstown Elementary School
Information Superhighway
"The Road to Technology Starts Here"
Frankstown Elementary School offers students some of the most up-to-date technological devices offered today. Students have the ability to utilize a printer, scanner, digital camera, Webster Smartboard, Proxima Projector, a "Coconut" (TVator), and Alpha Smart keyboards, for touch typing. Frankstown also has a Computer Lab which consists of 31 computers, a scanner, laser printer, and TVator. We have a multimedia library, which includes 19 computers, a scanner, projector, and color laser printer. In addition to the labs, each classroom has two desktop computers.
We also house a Large Group Instruction (L.G.I.) facility which has a VCR, CD and DVD player, a projector, and sound system. New to Frankstown this year, is a mobile wireless lab which has 30 laptops stored in it. Students can now access the Internet, and school server, from their own desks. This advancement came to us from the hard work of The Technology Committee, and the generosity of our very own PTO and School Board.
AlphaSmarts
The AlphaSmart allows you to enter and edit text, then send it to any computer for formatting or directly to a printer. Its portability allows students to use it anywhere and anytime - in the classroom, at home, or on field trips. It also has Touch Typing software which students are required to complete. The AlphaSmarts are designed so that students don't have to leave the classroom for instruction.
TVator
TVators, commonly referred to as "Coconuts", are used to project a computer image onto a television screen. Frankstown currently has 8 TVators which are used in the computer lab, as well as, the classrooms.
Projector
Projectors are designed to "project" a computer image onto a screen. Students will use this equipment to give Multimedia presentations and oral reports. They are light weight and can easily be connected to a computer.
Webster Smartboard
The Webster™ Touch Sensitive (TS) Series of interactive whiteboards is simple to use, yet offers outstanding functionality as dry erase, active, or interactive whiteboards. When connected to a PC or Macintosh® computer, the proprietary, touch-sensitive screen instantly captures everything written or drawn on its surface. No special pens are necessary – the system uses standard, dry erase markers. Touching one button saves notes to a computer to easily print, e-mail, fax, or upload to the Web. Students can actually move the computer curser with their very own hands!! This piece of technology works with a projector to create an outstanding presentational tool. Frankstown has two Webster boards, one in the primary grades and one in the intermediate grades.
Digital Camera
The students at Frankstown use a Sony Mavica Digital Camera. This camera has many advanced features all of which are simple and easy to use. Students use the cameras for presentational pictures, storylines, projects and research topics. Teachers and staff also utilize the cameras for classrooms activities and school related functions. You will find that many of the school's website photos came from our very own digital cameras.
Scanner
Students have access to two scanners located in Frankstown. These scanners provide students and teachers the opportunity to make copies of photos and documents. The scanner software allows the user to crop pictures and edit word documents such as tests or stories.
Printers
Students will use various printers throughout the building. Their are two color laser printers, 6 black and white laser printers, and 5 color inkjet printers. Teachers also benefit from the printers, as well as the office staff and paraprofessionals.
Mobile Wireless Computer Lab
New to Frankstown this year is the Mobile Wireless Laptop Cart. This lab, consisting of thirty laptop computers, enables access to the Internet or school server from student desks or anywhere in the building. The thirty laptops will assist in fulfilling district benchmarks and state standards.
This purchase was a cooperative effort between the Hollidaysburg Area School District and Frankstown PTO. The PTO donated half of the funds required for the purchase. Two years ago, they also donated money to purchase nine computers, a color laser printer, color inkjet printer, and a Proxima projector for the library. Through the generosity and hard work of this organization, Frankstown School now has new technological equipment to assist in the students’ education.
The Frankstown students and staff would like to thank the PTO, Administration, and IT Department for all their time and hard work. Without a group effort, the wireless lab would never have been possible.
