ASP Tech Club Visit #5

Today was our final ASP Tech Club visit at Hyalite Elementary.  My partner, Chantal, and I helped the students finish up their iMovie videos about Montana wildlife.  When the photos were compiled, Chantal helped them record their voices over the video, narrating the facts they had researched earlier.  This day was especially fun, since a few of the kids had taken home invitations to their parents, and four parents had shown up to see their children's work in class.  Unfortunately, we had technical difficulties with the Smartboard, so we had to watch the videos on the Macbooks.  The students and parents didn't seem to mind, though, and all ten or eleven of us huddled around the laptops to see the students' work.  The videos were full of awkward pauses and grainy photos, but the students were proud, and their enthusiasm was contagious.  I have been struck by how friendly the whole experience has been.  The teachers are unceasingly helpful, the parents are appreciative, and we formed an instant bond with the students.  I was honestly sad to leave today.  We were given a giant hand-made thank-you card, and everyone lined up for hugs or high fives.  Although I was initially nervous about the whole thing, I found that by working together with my partner, learning from the faculty, matching the lessons to learning objectives, and feeding off the energy of the students, the whole experience was fun and beneficial for all those involved.