EDUCATION: New technology helps WRV-Worthington sixth graders

By Anna Rochelle There's been a big turnaround in Jill Staggs' sixth-grade classroom at White River Valley Worthington Elementary School. The days when only a handful of students would answer questions are over. Since Staggs volunteered to test out a new technological learning system that replaces a blackboard, all of her students are trying to answer all of her questions.

WORTHINGTON -- There's been a big turnaround in Jill Staggs' sixth-grade classroom at White River Valley Worthington Elementary School.

The days when only a handful of students would answer questions are over.

Since Staggs volunteered to test out a new technological learning system that replaces a blackboard, all of her students are trying to answer all of her questions.

"Normally when I asked a question, one or two kids would raise their hands. The rest of them were not working on it. They were just waiting for someone else to answer it," said Staggs. "Now they're all trying to be first."

Staggs and her students are using a new educational system from a company called CIM Technology Solutions.

The system comes with an interactive wireless "InterWrite" chalkboard that is about the size of a notebook. When the teacher writes on it with a special stylus, whatever she writes is projected on to a large screen at the front of the classroom.

"There's no more turning my back on students to write on the chalkboard. I can even walk around the room while I'm writing on it," said Staggs. "And although this is used primarily by the teacher, I can also hand it to a student and they can use it to work a problem while the class watches the screen."

The chalkboard is just one part of an interconnected system that includes special software for the teacher's computer, a projection system and 32 hand-held clickers.

Each student gets their own clicker. They look similar to a remote control device with several buttons. The students respond to questions by keying in their answer on their clicker and their response is then transmitted wirelessly into the system.

As their answers are keyed in, a light pops up on the big screen so the teacher and students all know when everyone has answered the question. Automatically, the system figures out how many students got the answer right and the totals will show on the screen.

Individual scores or answers are not revealed to the whole class, however the teacher can see the individual responses on her own computer.

"I get immediate feedback with this," said Staggs. "Right away I know that I need to re-teach if the class is having trouble with a lesson. And I can also see when one student is having trouble -- this lets me know I need to work with that one student."

The system can be used in any subject. In math, Staggs can project a graphic of a baseball field or a basketball court on the screen which students use to work on perimeter, area, circumference and other geometry problems. She can project a list of this week's vocabulary words in English, pictures in a science lesson, review questions for an upcoming social studies test. Any of the documents stored on her computer and supplementary materials from standard textbooks can be projected on screen.

Staggs says the uses are endless and the system has many tools and features she hasn't even tried yet.

Her students are even more enthusiastic. They say they look forward to class now, the system has helped them learn and they want to keep it.

Principal Kevin Keller has been watching the pilot program with great interest and says he is impressed.

"We appreciate Mr. (Layton) Wall and the WRV School Board for funding the pilot program," said Keller.

Now that he's seen the results, he's hoping the system could be added to other classrooms at both WRV Worthington and Lyons Elementary Schools. The next step is a report to the school board about the pilot program then possibly submit grant applications for funding. He estimates the cost would be approximately $2,000 per classroom.

Keller said the students love the system and in some ways they have adapted to the program faster than the teacher.

"It's amazing," said Keller. "They're just better with technology than we are because they grew up with it. But we're catching up."

Staggs says one of the biggest benefits of the new technology is that her students look forward to using the system and are excited about what they've learned.

"They love it. Every day they ask if we're going to use it," said Staggs. "And I notice that when I am teaching with it, they are really paying attention. If the students are excited about learning, that's half the battle."