Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

The Clock is Ticking!

Instructional Illuminations

What is Technology in Classrooms of Kentucky (TICK) ?

Technology in Classrooms of Kentucky (TICK) is a database that currently contains over 1770 aligned content resources that address Kentucky curriculum and helps teachers address the Technology Big Ideas adopted in Kentucky's Program of Studies and the technology literacy components of the NCLB legislation.

Why was TICK developed?

Many states, including Kentucky, realized that the NCLB mandate for technology literacy had to be specifically addressed by their state in the form of curriculum and accountability goals. Kentucky adopted a new Program of Studies in August 2006 that outlines the minimum course requirements for graduation in Kentucky as well as the benchmark competencies (including technology) required at four grade levels.

How did the Kentucky Academy of Technology Education (KATE) respond?

As the Program of Studies was evolving, the Kentucky Academy of Technology Education (KATE) realized the immediate impact that the adoption of technology literacy requirements would have on teachers already concentrating on the rigor and relevance required to meet the directives of Kentucky's Academic Goals and Expectations and Program of Studies for content areas.

The KATE web page already included content links, theme-based materials, interactive activities and a wealth of other resources that have been available as free resources to educators, students and parents in support of the use of technology and improving education both in and out of the classroom.

KATE took additional steps to help by developing a new specialized web component to address this newly defined need with a database tool (TICK) that includes high-quality, standards-based, engaging instruction/learning resources or tools

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The Fine Arts of Mexico

Core Connections

www.turtletrack.org

By : Sarah Loveless, Calloway County High School
Mexico Fine Arts Unit

Mexico is much more than tacos, sombreros, chiles, fiestas, siestas and piñatas. However, many students have these preconceived ideas when they think of Mexico. A unit on the fine arts of Mexico seeks to engage students in not only researching the arts, but also creating/demonstrating their own forms of the art.

This unit can be spread over a few weeks or an entire semester. The activities in the unit are great for Fridays! They get the students out of their seats and allow the students to put their own creative twists on the activities. Students enjoy this unit because it is a break from grammar, reading, and writing. One of the great things about this unit is that one can bring the fine arts to the classroom thanks to technology. It would be wonderful for these students to visit Mexico and be immersed in the fine arts; hopefully, this unit will whet their appetites for the fine arts as well as travel!

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Why Are We So Hot?

Core Connections

www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/prep/heat

This answer to that question has been debated for several years with no clear cut decision. Many believe that global warming is the answer to why temperatures on the earth's surface have increased by 1.4 degrees since 1900 and last year was the warmest in 150 years. This question may have no simple answers or solutions but global warming and climate change are real world problems for children in today's classrooms.

Researchers predict that warming temperatures will continue to cause problems. Draughts caused by melting glaciers will produce water shortages, rising sea levels may lead to flooding, warming sea temperatures will intensify hurricanes and increased growth of insects may cause troublesome diseases.

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