Tim Jollymore - Urban Dreams Teacher

	VIDEO CASE STUDY
Tim Jollymore English Teacher, Skyline High School
*(movie will begin automatically)* We use it all! And it's great!	English and Language Arts we need more involvement. There are many valuable ways to use technology in our curriculum... I became involved in Urban Dreams to represent the language arts department, which has a predominantly social science direction. I believe the arts are more than a part of the social justice struggle, they may be the most important part.

The technology allows better communication with students and off campus parents.

The basic Office 2000 is the staple. I use Word every day for assignments & handouts; Excel for attendance & grades and PowerPoint for assignments. I use Photo Deluxe for photo processing. Access is my database for parents and students. I use the Educart at least once a week to supplement lecture material.The greatest benefit, actually, was the laptop. I use it daily...my constant companion.

Through use of presentation programs, digital imaging and use of computers for research in the classroom my students have more focus on their assignments. I can do more in the same length of time.

Promoting Student Writing

Other components that I have been able to partake of...are the Alpha Smarts carts, which are thirty word processors...I use that extensively in my journalism class...we did mystery writing on the Alpha Smarts also...with good results. My students won the top seven spaces of eight in the Oakland competition...I don't know if it was the Alpha Smarts or if it was the students...probably a combination of both.

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Senior Essays enhanced with Digital Soundbites

One of the projects we've done this year, which comes under the classification of, "I bit off more than I could chew," is producing a CD of senior essays enhanced with digital sound bites...the students were pleased with the final product. Next year I will start it earlier and will know more about what it takes to accomplish...it will be easier!!

Tim Jollymore

Urban Dreams English Teacher

So far UD has been very valuable. For the length of time the grant has been in effect a tremendous amount of development and production has accrued. I am amazed at the efficiency of the group. Small problems crop up but are usually resolved before staff can respond...but when the glitches persist they (staff) can be relied upon to do what is needed to keep us going. We still need more English involvement. I have suggested the Mark Twain papers and Museum @ UC Berkeley...we need top notch literature people for presenters and I have used every opportunity to highlight the need. The workshops were fine - the Patricia Hill presentation was the best for me and other English teachers.