Internet Cafe creating '21st century learners' at Mays Landing school

The next wave of "Web 2.0" programs have names like ExtraNormal, Glogster and Voki, and - with the help of a little pizza - the students of William Davies Middle School are taking to them like old pros.

Janel Schafer, the school's educational technology integration specialist, said the after-school Internet Cafe is helping both students and parents into this new world.

"It offers them homework help time outside of the school day," she said. "But it's also to train their parents in what their kids are doing."

The Davies students, along with those at St. Vincent de Paul Regional School, were the recipients of net books as part of a state Department of Education grant. Through the TALENT 21 program, of which the cafe is a part, sixth-graders must create a multimedia presentation demonstrating both their tech savvy and creative thinking. At the end of the year, they must present an idea to improve the environment in their community.

Ethan Armbruster, 11, of Mays Landing, came by with his classmate Brent Kempton, 12, also of Mays Landing, to practice Anamodo. They plan to use the program, which combines audio, photos and video into a single presentation, to show how a vegetable garden can save money and reduce carbon emissions.

"We want to see how much money we'll save in the long run from having a vegetable garden," Ethan said.

Mike Draper, the Hamilton Township School District instructional technology integration coach, said the goal of all the technology is to turn the students into "21st-century learners" ready to use and adapt to the constantly changing technology that will await them in high school and after graduation.

"The impact is that they're much more confident and independent working with technology," he said.

And Schafer said the Internet Cafe, the only one of its kind in the area's schools, provides an extra boost to the students who take advantage of it.

"When something's not working, they say, 'Oh, that didn't work, let's do it again or try something new,'" she said. "Other students raise their hands for help."

The free pizza also brings in a lot of students and their parents, Schafer said.

"The whole family is invited," she said. "A lot of times, it's the younger siblings and the parents who are blown away by it."

Thomas Hayes, of the Weymouth section of Hamilton Township, brought his 11-year-old daughter, Dominique.

"It's a very good thing that teachers take the extra time to help out because parents only have so much experience," he said.

Dominique, who's preparing a presentation on how to reduce plastic usage in water bottles, said she has had fun learning at the cafe.

"Some programs are difficult, but some are easy to understand," she said.

Armbruster said the cafe is good because it's difficult finding time to work with his partner on the presentation.

"It's good because we don't have time during his school," he said.

"And the free pizza, too," Kempton added.

Contact Wallace McKelvey:

609-272-7256

WMcKelvey@pressofac.com

If you go

What: William Davies Middle School Internet Cafe (also open to middle schoolers from St. Vincent De Paul Regional School)

When: 5 to 7:30 p.m.?Thursdays

Where: 1876 Dr. Dennis Foreman Drive, Mays Landing

More info: hamiltonschools.org/

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