About 150 students in the Socorro Independent School District demonstrated how technology has enhanced their educational experiences and equipped them with the skills to succeed in a digital world at the seventh annual Academic Technology Showcase on National Digital Learning Day on Feb. 15.
Organized by the district’s Instructional Technology team, the districtwide event welcomed students from all grade levels to compete in the app and digital video challenges showcasing their technology skills, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.
Sierra Vista STEAM Academy fifth-graders Valentina Moreno and Natalie Fematt won first place in the elementary app challenge for their app called “Musical Diary.”
The Musical Diary app provides a platform for users to express their emotions. After a brief introduction, the app will prompt the user to input their top three feelings. For example, if they are feeling sad and depressed, they can type that in. The app then uses artificial intelligence to generate a song that corresponds to their emotions. If users are not satisfied with the result, they can adjust and customize it further. Finally, they can record their own voice singing the songs.
“I feel really happy we placed!” Moreno said. “I couldn't believe it! We've never built an app before. I thought it would be cool to do it because I like doing PowerPoint and designing stuff and coming up with ideas.”
SISD Coordinator for Instructional Technology Miguel Moreno (no relation to Valentina Moreno) said the showcase was an opportunity for SISD students and teachers to showcase the work that they have been doing in the classrooms with the technology that the district provides.
Miguel Moreno said this year's theme, "Amplify Technology," challenged students to develop an app or a video that would leverage technology to address today's issues.
“(This is) a world that we can't live without (technology),” Miguel Moreno said. “So, we definitely want to show everybody how the learning that's going on in our classrooms is put to practical use and to good use in many situations. It's also important because, again, in a digital world, these are the basic skills that students are learning."
Since its first year, the Academic Technology Showcase has helped to highlight the district’s commitment to advance digital teaching and learning, train educators to utilize new instructional resources, and provide more technological devices for student use.
In addition to the app and video challenges, the event featured a Coding Dance Party, Ozobot Maze and SISD’s mobile Planetarium. Students across the district also presented their innovative projects, which ranged from weight-lifting robots, a flight simulator, to graphic novels created with Canva, a free graphic design tool.
Royce Olivas, a seventh-grade student at Eastlake Middle School, presented on the benefits of using Schoology, a learning management system, for reading and language arts in the classroom.
“I like talking to people, and I like showing what we do in class,” Olivas said. “Parents get more knowledge of what kids are learning in school.”
Jacqueline Moreno, the mother of Valentina Moreno, said the district’s showcase was an excellent opportunity for parents to see the many different activities the district offers to enhance students’ learning.
“It’s nice to see what there is and that she gets to take advantage of all that stuff,” Jacqueline Moreno said.
Academic Technology Showcase Winners
Video Challenge Winners
1st Place
Elementary School Division – Escontrias STEAM Academy
Zachary Pendelton
Santiago Zepeda
Ricardo de la Torre
Victor Snachez
Middle School Division – John Drugan School
Serenity Valles
Aidan Ibarra
Joaquin Meraz
Alexa Caudillo
Sergio Saenz
High School Division – Montwood High School
Nayleen Chavez
Addienna Caudillo
Milany Muniz
2nd Place
Elementary School Division – Horizon Heights Elementary
Isabel Nolasco
Ana Soto
Isabella Frizzell
Ian Garcia
Middle School Division – Montwood Middle School
Yaretzi Dias
High School Division – Mission Early College
Armando Levario
Ailey Green
Maria Duron
Raquel Cuellar
Nicole Fonseca
App Challenge Winners
1st Place
Elementary School Division – Sierra Vista STEAM Academy
Natalie Fematt
Valentina Moreno
Middle School Division – Bill Sybert Middle School
Dorian Estrada
Richard Brooks
High School Division – Eastlake High School
Gabrielle Garcia
Natalie Porras
2nd Place
Elementary School Division – Robert R. Rojas Elementary
Destiny Licon
Jermy Davila
Middle School Division – Hernando Middle School
Macey McDougal