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	The View A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

NMS teacher receives grant for classroom tech program

By Jamie Banas, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: October 28, 2004

Sixth graders at North Middle School will soon be able to create mammals using Clamation Software, thanks to the countless efforts of the school's media specialist, Connie Nagle.

Because of this advanced technology, students will be create and manipulate clay figures then photograph them frame-by-frame; basically, the software allows students to create short films, similar to the animated program Gumby and other stop-motion photography feature films.

"Our students are always thrilled with technology projects," said Nagle. "This particular program will integrate the data gathered by the students together with a clay animation presentation.

"With this program, approximately 230 sixth grade students will work in teams of four, designing their own sets, creating clay model animals, organizing their information and documenting their findings in original scripts.

"Then, the students will use a digital camera and shoot their presentations using clay-modeled animals as their main characters.

"This in-depth project includes several subject areas including library research, art, video production, science, and script writing, as well as the experience of working toward a common goal."

The MEEMIC Foundation mini-grant program was introduced to Belleville area teachers through local MEEMIC agents, Ernie and Bethann Krumm.

"We were so happy to know that an educator from the Belleville area received a mini-grant from the MEEMIC Foundation," said Krumm.

"Connie's approach to learning is inspirational; she sought funding to fuse several areas of curriculum together with aspects of multi-media clay animation.

"Undoubtedly the North Middle School sixth grade students will enjoy learning about mammals, making this project not only educationally rewarding but also fun."

Nagle petitioned the MEEMIC foundation and was awarded $750 for support in purchasing materials for a series of multi-media presentations incorporating mammal research.

"The foundation awards monies to creative ideas for the classroom," Nagle said.

According to Nagle, the school is in the process of purchasing software and a digital camera. The program will begin to be implemented in early January.