In the News: |
New technology in place at St. Bernard's School |
| By ANDY BATES, Enterprise Staff Writer Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Wednesday, May 4, 2005 page 3. SARANAC LAKE – St. Bernard's School now has classroom where students can learn to search the Internet without leaving their desks an without 14-inch computer monitors in front of their faces. Teachers can research students' questions on the spot and students can measure angles and complete math equations with the touch of a finger. What was once only imagination has turned to reality with the recent addition of a SmartBoard in the school's fifth-grade classroom. Comprised of an interactive touch-sensitive projection screen linked to a computer, the SmartBoard is generically referred to as a white board however, teachers at the school referred to it by its brand name. ”I've found a way to integrate it in almost everything I teach," fifth-grade teacher Chris Savage said. "It's just as amazing as it looks." Tuesday night, parents and lower grade-level students got chance to see first-hand how the SmartBoard works and what it can add to the quality of education students at St. Bernard's School receive. Aside from having the Internet at his fingertips, Savage said the SmartBoar allows him to shave off a lot of time spent making transparencies for overhead projectors, planning lessons and gaining students' attention. Savage said he can plan lessons at home and simply pull put them onto the screen for students- to follow. He can create spreadsheets and templates go over quizzes and homework assignments with students more interactively, and he's even created a spreadsheet for his grade book. He added that he also found Web sites for the textbooks he uses in class, as well as for text-books he doesn't use, which provide in-depth activities in support of the primary textbook. Largely organized by technology coordinator Sandra Fiorile, the technology cost roughly --$4,700 to install. Fiorile said much of the money came from a grant though the Diocese of Ogdensburg, as well as bottle drives and yearbook sales: “As someone who only gets to spend at most a few hours a week with students in the computer lab”, Fiorile said “the SmartBoard allows students to learn the proper way to use computers and search engines without it feeling like a lesson, and rather than tackle each students' problem at a computer individually the technology allows a teacher to serve the whole class at a time.” Instead of bringing the kids into the computer lab it's all integrated into everything they do," Fiorile said. "The teachers are really excited about it." "Any time we research something in front of the kids we’re teaching that process without that necessarily being our intention," Savage said. The SmartBoard also allows students to keep up with current events as part of the class, as well as create their own interactive presentations for class assignments. Savage said that while Pope Benedict XVI was being elected, students were watching the events through a live feed on the Internet and were getting information even before CNN. Bob Farmer, a parent, said simply, "It's pretty awesome,' after the presentation. "Anything that keeps (the children's) attention is a powerful tool." Farmer added “As (the teachers) learn more about it; I'm sure this is only the tip of iceberg." Fiorile said she's working to get SmartBoards for the third and fourth-grade classes as well! However, she has until October of this year before funding through the Diocese in Ogdensburg becomes unavailable. E-mail Andy Rates at - abates@adirondackguide.com Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Wednesday, May 4, 2005 page 3. |