Val-Alain - Kindergarten to grade 6 students will present their ICT-related projects at the 4th edition of the Computer Symposium organized at Ste-Thérèse school in Val-Alain on June 10.
Parents, children, stakeholders and all people working from far or near in the school environment are invited to come and visit the classes transformed into various kiosks in order to underline the sustained efforts of the students throughout the year.
The kiosks deal with different themes such as circus and art, but above all, they demonstrate the use of ICT in primary schools in Villeroy, Val-Alain and Lourdes (ViVaLo).
Émilie Desharnais, kindergarten teacher and member of the Symposium 2010 committee, explained that “as the three ViVaLo schools are located in rather disadvantaged rural areas, we looked for ways to increase academic motivation and to demonstrate to other schools that 'big things can happen in small villages too'.
The three primary schools now have a computer lab. In addition, all classes have an interactive whiteboard (IWB). “In connection with the educational plan, we work a lot with information and communication technologies in order to increase academic motivation,” Ms. Desharnais said.
The event is in its 4th edition. The idea of making an exhibition of the various achievements of young people was born when the ViVaLo school team was looking for a way to stand out from other schools. The name Symposium was selected in order to make the whole more prestigious since it refers to a scientific congress bringing together experts.
The Computer Symposium will take place on June 10, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ste-Thérèse school at 1198 rue de l'Église in Val-Alain.
By Marie-Christine Leblanc