Magazine honors school for innovative teaching

By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
April 5, 2007

SCOTTSDALE — Sometimes it’s hard for teachers to stop students from playing with their cell phones or iPods in class.

Yet teachers at Pope John XXIII School don’t see technology as a distraction; they pair it with the curriculum.

Today’s Catholic Teacher recently recognized the faculty and administration for doing so. The educator magazine honored the interparish school with a “Catholic Schools for Tomorrow” award last month.

Pope John XXIII was one of 12 Catholic elementary and high schools in the United States and Canada selected for its innovations.

“I want other people to know that Catholic schools do a great job, not just in old-fashioned ways, but in innovative ways,” sixth-grade teacher Karl Ochsner said.

That’s why he combined his experience as a film animator with high-tech video equipment and software to launch a program to build student character. 

“Hurry up! Get ready! It’s time for ‘Kids Building Character,’” fourth-grader Kyra Ochsner said in the introductory clip for the campus-wide project.

The animated title screen features her voice synchronized with  a hand-drawn character. The animation is immediate, which motivates the students and makes them pay attention to the content.

Classes use live video and animated presentations to defined their character trait. Part of the “patience” video features first-graders spelling words by forming letters on the ground with their bodies.

A second-grade class animated a group-drawn storybook to teach about self-control. One of the fourth-grade classes — to learn about clear communication — performed a “Star Wars” skit in which Darth Vader reveals his true identity to Luke Skywalker.

Students see the projects on the school’s weekly TV announcements, which are available online.

Teaching with technology

Merging technology with learning at Pope John XXIII didn’t end with the school’s character program.

Computer technology “isn’t taught as a separate subject here. It’s integrated,” said Janice Konderick, assistant principal.

A grant helped the school upgrade its classrooms.

Eighth-graders recently began using language-learning software. Teacher Rina Yurcak said students learn by hearing, seeing, reading and writing the word like a native would, instead of writing to memorize. The software also allows them to work at their own pace.

The eighth-graders are also using technology to learn art by illustrating Scripture from the weekly Mass readings. Art teacher Danette Corkran already taught them how to write music and add background to liven up the stories. The projects will be used to teach the kindergartners.

Ocscher is directing the annual curriculum movie in which the sixth-graders star. They often act in front of a make shift green screen that spans most of a classroom wall.

This year’s movie is a detective-style math film.

“In order to find the treasure, they have clues and each of the clues is a different math concept,” he said.

Sixth-grader Tyler Snell finds subjects more interesting and learns more quickly with technology.

“It’s more fun than just writing out of the book,” he said.

Ochsner said he uses film in the classroom because it engages students. He noted their excitement often means they play the film again and again for family and friends.

“They’re re-living the curriculum every time they play it,” Ochsner said.

Pope John XXIII was the third school in the diocese to receive the “Catholic Schools for Tomorrow” award since 2003. The magazine recognized St. Thomas Aquinas School in Avondale two years ago and Brophy College Preparatory in 2003.