The Technology Program at Balboa Magnet is geared towards presenting students with  21^st-century skills that are essential for them to triumph in the global skills race. According to a new report from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), for the United States to be globally competitive--and for states to attract growth industries and create jobs--the nation requires a fresh approach to education that recognizes the critical role 21^st-century skills play in the workplace. Ken Kay, the president of P21, summarizes it as follows: "It has become apparent that there isn't a lack of employees who are technically proficient, but a lack of employees who can adequately communicate and collaborate, innovate, and think critically."

Our program at Balboa Magnet is focused on facilitating these skills by utilizing tools such as, Google Apps, Scratch, and MicroWorlds. 

Grades 1 - 2:

Our 1^st - 2^nd graders are using MicroWorlds EX, a collection of tools which

helps them explore anything they imagine. These tools help students talk about their ideas and questions by testing them in this idea exploration and project creation environment. Students can explore text editing tools, a music creation tool, as well as a simple programming tool that complements a full fledged graphic and multimedia environment. These tools help students create their own interactive multimedia stories as well as math and science explorations. By working with MicroWorlds, students develop creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. 

Our 1^st - 2^nd graders are also using Scratch, a programming language for students (ages 8 and up), designed to help them create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. Students can share their work by posting it on the web and collaborate and learn from Scratch users around the world. Scratch was developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.

Grades 3 - 5:

Our 3^rd - 5^th graders are using Google Apps--a collection of web-based

programs that run in a web browser. The applications include communication tools (Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Calendar), productivity tools (Google Docs: text files, spreadsheets, and presentations), a customizable start page (iGoogle), and Google Sites (to develop web pages). Google stores all of the files and content and keeps a record of the different versions of a file. With Google Apps, sharing content is done by granting someone access, which facilitates collaboration, peer review of learning materials, and the collective generation of knowledge. It also encourages experimentation with collaborative learning, sharing of information, and an easy way to publish student projects. It allows students and teachers to forget about the tools and focus on creative ways to use technology in their disciplines. Our students use Google Apps as an instructional tool to help them implement classroom projects.

As research on the internet is an important part of student learning in the 21^st century, our technology curriculum will include lectures on "Effective Strategies to Search the Internet" and "How to Validate and Evaluate Information on the World Wide Web."

Our 3^rd - 5^th graders are also using Scratch, a programming language for students (ages 8 and up), designed to help them create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. Students can share their work by posting it on the web and collaborate and learn from Scratch users around the world. Scratch was developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.