ONEONTA _ Second-graders from Greater Plains Elementary used the latest in computer technology Wednesday to show off what they learned while researching their many-legged friends.
While students have been learning about insects for years, two second-grade teachers worked with librarian Coleen Lewis to integrate computer technology into the project this year, said one of the teachers, Kim Downie.
The approximately 35 students in their classes presented their work in separate presentations for family and staff.
Several of Downie's students who showed their videos in the library said they enjoyed the project.
This included Ray Mckee, who researched termites. Using several computer programs, he drew pictures and added text and music. All his classmates used the same method.
The most interesting thing he learned, he said, was that some termite mounds can reach a height of 18 feet.
"It was fun learning about different insects," he said.
Athena Basdekis said that while researching moths, she learned skills that will be useful throughout life, including computer drawing and typing.
Students in Debra Harlem's class used a computer program called Crazy Talk to make it appear that voices were coming from the insect drawings. They showed their video in her classroom.
The use of technology makes the work more enjoyable for students, she said. This makes it more likely that they will remember what they learned about insects, she added.
One of her students, Ryan Nickoletti, said he chose wasps because they were interesting.
"I thought it would be cool to get something with a stinger," he said. "It was a lot of fun, especially showing it to all the parents."
One of those in attendance was Superintendent Michael Shea, who said students could have learned the same information without the technology. But one of its values is in motivating students, he said.
"I saw some pretty excited second-graders," Shea said.
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