Gaming elements enter classroom experience
Elaine Wong, Staff Writer
October 31, 2011
Starting the 2011-2012 school year, Freshmen English teacher, Mr. Matthew LaPorte, introduced a new classroom incentive program based on video game principles called “gamification.” This program includes badges and experience points given to motivate his incoming students. Over the summer, he worked... Read more »
Edmodo enhances classroom communication
Nadia Manivong, Staff Writer
October 20, 2011
Both students and teachers at Southwest Career and Technical Academy feel that communication amongst one another is not the easiest to maintain. This barrier can lead to conflicts throughout the school year such as students complaining they were unaware of a quiz or teachers stating they did not receive... Read more »
First Class student emails now available
Faith Manley, Business Manager
October 13, 2011
FirstClass e-mails are now accessible for student use. These e-mails are accessible at school, as well as at home. To log on to Interact, student’s username is their student ID, as well as their password. Student’s e-mail address’s are their first name, middle initial, last initial, grade, 448. “I... Read more »
Steve Jobs dies at 56
April Bitanga, Features Editor
October 10, 2011
Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Inc., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. The cause of death is assumed to be his rare case of pancreatic cancer. He was 56. “We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” reads a statement from Apple’s board of directors.... Read more »
Graphic design projects populate school art show
Jordan Sutton, A&E Editor
October 10, 2011
Mrs. Maureen Clark and her ‘3D Animation’ and ‘Media for the Web’ classes will host an art show in early November. They will showcase their graphic design projects that they have been working on this quarter. The owner of the design company, Petroglyph, will be touring the school and viewing... Read more »
Web Design students curate QR code school tour
April Bitanga, Features Editor
September 27, 2011
The sophomore, junior, and senior web design students are currently working on a virtual tour of Southwest Career and Technical Academy using Quick Response (QR) codes for their project based learning assignment this year. “I see QR codes everywhere,” says senior Bret Barton. “I was excited to... Read more »
Coyote Call premieres
Angelina Marcee, Copy Editor
September 21, 2011
Coyote Call is a new, weekly video segment that will be featured on the Southwest Shadow news site. This is another way that students will be able to voice and share their opinion with the rest of the student body. “I think Coyote Call is a pretty awesome addition to our newspaper site, since it’ll... Read more »
Career oriented technologies mimic real-life scenarios
Elaine Wong, Staff Writer
April 11, 2011
Computers, smart boards and graphing calculators make up the basic technology that educate students in their core classes at Southwest Career and Technical Academy. The career programs areas at SWCTA, however, involve certain specific pieces of technology that provide real-world practices. This technology... Read more »
Maya project begins for sophomores
Aliksander Higginbotham, Staff Writer
March 9, 2011
In Mr. Craig Statucki’s 3-D Animation I class, the sophomore students have started on a project about the future, using a computer application called Maya. The job of each sophomore group is to create what the future would look like. Emily Dobbins, sophomore, says, “I think that the general idea... Read more »
Changes occur in Automotive Technology Program
Alyssa Sutton, Staff Writer
September 26, 2010
For the 2010-2011 school year, the Automotive Program at Southwest Career and Technical Academy is swiftly evolving with new projects and ideas. “Within the next few weeks, there will be many new changes in the auto shop that will widen the auto program’s studies,” claims Tyler Jackson, junior. The... Read more »
