News
Technology on display at EN
10/27/2011
Author: Dennis Nartker
Published by: The News Sun
How is the East Noble school district's One-to-One compute technology working in the elementary schools?
At Wednesday night's East Noble School Board meeting at Wayne Center Elementary School, two Wayne Center Elementary first graders demonstrated their skill with iPod apps, and a sixth grader showed trustees how she does math problems on her laptop computer.
"No paper, no pencils, no highlighter," Wayne Center principal Karen Gandy told the board. "No binder, no lost homework and immediate feedback," said sixth grade teacher Janelle Foster.
Trustees, who approved the distribution of iPods to K-2 students, iPads in grades 3-4, and laptops in grades 5-12 at the start of this school year, were assured at this point in the school year they had made the right decision. "I'm impressed,{ commented board president Barb Babcock. Even trustee John Wicker, who was skeptical at first, said he was now sold on the technology.
Each elementary classroom in the school district has an LCD projector with DVD/VHS and Direct TV. The first grade students projected their iPod apps on the projection screen and showed how they spell words and make sentences. "In the past we used blocks with letters to make words. This is much more interactive, and the kids stay on task," said first grade teacher Faith Erexson.
Third and fourth graders use their iPad applications to study geography, phonics, math and spelling, said Gandy. "When doing research, they can Google to find information," she added.
Functional life skills students use their iPad applications to learn cause and effect and safety. "They're creating videos of themselves stopping at stop signs," said Gandy. "Technology has really transformed teaching. There's a lot of good things happening."
Foster showed how she creates a powerpoint presentation on the metric system for her students to study at home or look at on their laptops in the classroom. "When students come into the classroom they open their computers and can see the work they have to do that day," she said. Students take notes on assignments through an app called OneNote. "There's no more lost notes. It automatically saves them. They have easy access to study for tests," she said. "Students are eager to learn. It's absolutely effective."
When asked how long it took for her to learn the technology and many applications, Foster said one summer session.Back to Top