Electronic Buddy Schools

Jordan Ridge Elementary and Copperview Elementary, Jordan School District, Utah

Electronic Buddy Schools

Project Abstract:

This is a three-dimensional collaborative project that combines a partnership
between two sixth-grade classrooms with a humanitarian effort to research and support
countries in conflict or crisis. It acknowledges and rewards goodwill efforts of local
individuals, and encourages service-learning projects and technology integration in
public schools. This grant would provide fourteen computers, and other state-of-the-art
equipment, to be shared between two sixth-grade classrooms. By increasing student
access to technology, we hope to reach high goals of academic excellence through
technology integration, cooperative learning strategies, and service-learning
opportunities. Learning activities would be coordinated between Jordan Ridge
Elementary (South Jordan, Utah) and Copperview Elementary (Midvale, Utah) to
enhance student writing and critical thinking processes and improve communication skills
using multimedia. We hope students will catch the excitement for self-directed learning
and collaborative projects that develop their own talents and benefit humanity.

Project Goals:

Our goal is to motivate our students to a higher level of academic excellence by
increasing the student-to-computer ratio. We want to provide an opportunity for students
to electronically connect to each other, another classroom in a different school, and
people and information around the globe. We are optimistic that by giving students the
tools and opportunity to use technology effectively at school to master the curriculum and
serve others, they will begin to recognize their own talents and areas of interest and
become productive and contributing members of a global technological society.
Specifically, some of our goals are to:

Help students become lifelong learners by motivating them to learn in and out of the
classroom and work beyond classroom expectations.
Help improve students’ attitudes toward school by directing student learning to
subjects of their own interest.
Help increase student access to technology. Our goal is a 1:4 student-to-computer
classroom ratio vs. a 1:28 ratio in the classroom.
Help students acquire knowledge on a need-to-know basis.
Help students evaluate and manage information.
Help students develop critical thinking skills.
Help students to develop effective social skills to work collaboratively with others.
Help students develop technical skills to use updated communication equipment.
Help students see opportunities, benefits, and risks that technological advances can
bring to a society and classroom.
Help students become wise users of technology.
Help students improve their research and communication skills.
Help students see a reason for editing and improving the quality of their own writing
for a world audience.
Create a partnership between two very different schools within the same district to
build on each other’s strengths, share resources, and enrich both communities.
Help students to find joy in serving members of their learning group, class, buddy
school, and individuals around the globe.
Provide a model to help teachers learn how to manage technology in the classroom
and integrate technology throughout the entire school day in all subject areas.

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Goodwill Ambassador Classroom Monitor

Electronic Times

Electronic Buddy Schools Grant

Utah State Office of Education

Jordan Ridge Elementary

Copperview Elementary