Sagemont, a college prep in Weston, encourages students to dissect worn out computers to discover how they work

Sagemont students dressed in goggles and gloves dissect worn out computers using screwdrivers and wire cutters to learn more about how the machines actually work. This is a hands on project that teaches the discovery learning process. End Quote

Sagemont 5th grade student busy using small hand tools to discover how the computer actually works.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (1888PressRelease) April 03, 2010 - Sagemont Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade are doing more than just working on computers; they are dissecting them. Doris Quintero, Media and Technology Specialist, came up with the idea when she was teaching Kindergarten. "One of my students, while practicing letter sounds using the computer, stopped working, knocked on the computer and asked, "who is in there?" After that incident, I created a unit on machines and how they work. This year, at the private school in Broward County, Fl, one of the trimester themes is Inventions and Inventors. This was a great opportunity to reprise the unit and concentrate on computers."

Dressed in goggles and gloves and armed with wire cutters and screwdrivers, the students have been busy disassembling worn out computers. After discovering the hard drive inside his computer, a 5th grade student said, "I never knew such a small part could power so much. It's like a brain." Upon removing the cover of the computer, a 3rd grader exclaimed, "It looks like a little town from up high. " She later discovered the part she was referring to as a town was the motherboard.

The children have also been involved in using the media center computer lab to research the history of computers, names of parts, who invented or patented a particular part and why certain parts are necessary for the computer to function. Eventually the students will disassemble other machines to find similarities in parts and create a mock invention of their own. Then they will answer the big question: What would the world be like if the computer was not invented?

Principal, Joann Laskin, said, "When students have the opportunity to see how something works from the inside out using the discovery learning process, they gain skills and information that will help them throughout their lives in school and beyond. This process utilizes hands on learning, questioning, investigating, analyzing, interpreting, understanding, and answering."

The Sagemont School is a private school serving preschool students starting at age three through high school graduation. This respected college prep school caters to the Fort Lauderdale area, including Weston, Davie, Southwest Ranches, Cooper City, Miramar, and Sunrise. For students in preschool through grade 5, Sagemont provides core concepts in a creative environment combined with weekly specials that include science, art, music, Spanish for non-native & native speakers, swimming, PE and media and technology. From middle school through high school graduation, Sagemont students choose from a variety of regular, honors and AP course work. In addition, students share in a networked wireless laptop environment and participate in a comprehensive guidance program for college entrance. Visit The Sagemont School Web site at sagemont. com/.

For more information on The Sagemont School contact Dr. Brent Goldman, President at (954) 389-2454 ext, 305, or email to bgoldman ( @ ) sagemont dot com.

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