Winter 2007-08 - Scotia-Glenville Central School District

Central SChool DiStriCt
ScotiaglenvilleSchools.org Winter 2007-08
Changing classrooms with
activBoard, from page 1
troducing more and more technology
into the classroom – technology that
students readily understand and are
eager to use.
The latest example is the ActivBoard.
The ActivBoardis an interactive
electronic whiteboard that allows
teachers to tap into technology right in
front of their students’ eyes. It brings
learning to students in a way they can
understand and that they already use
every day.
So much potential
“I like it a lot because it has so many
uses and so much potential,” said
Spanish teacher Lorri Sammons, who
has watched the unfolding tech revolution
since coming to S-G in 2001.
“I love the response time because the
kids really get into it; they participate
and learn at the same time.”
She and teacher Regina Cabrera
use the ActivBoard for their Spanish
classes for students at all levels.
“Even the kids who don’t always do
their homework or pay attention, seem
to connect with the ActivBoard,” said
Sammons.
Spanish students were reviewing
for a test on a recent day. She grouped
three students together and handed
them a small console controller called
“Activote.” On it are buttons that
correspond to the correct answers for
series of questions. The students work
together to select the correct answer.
“…because it’s interesting”
Students say learning on the ActivBoard
is better than hunching over
a textbook and listening to the teacher.
“I like it because I see it right up
there and I can remember it better,”
said freshman Elena Favata.
“This isn’t boring; we can actually
do things on this,” said freshman Eric
Squires. “It makes me pay attention
more because it’s interesting.”
Grade 4 students Nate Rankin, left, and Jesse Rankin move text
around an electronic whiteboard or ActivBoard in Trish Roeser’s
class at Glendaal Elementary. The ActivBoard allows students to
participate in the lesson plan, instead of just watching.
2
“The
ActivBoard
allows us
to be more
interactive in
our teaching
and during
presentations,”
said
Trish Roeser,
who teaches
students
with special
needs
in grades
3 and 4 at
Glendaal.
“The children like this type of activity
because it is visual…that is what
they are used to,” said Roeser. “They
have grown up in that world and are
very comfortable with it.”
Roeser uses the ActivBoard, manufactured
by Georgia-based Promethean
Inc., for two or three lessons every
day. She also uses it to call up various
web sites during her lessons, allowing
students to see the same thing at the
same time and react together.
Students use an electronic pen or
want to move objects around the ActivBoard.
“They actually become part
of the lesson, and they really like it,”
added Roeser.
more activBoards planned
David Versocki, director of technology,
said the ActivBoards cost about
$2,200 each and come with a five-year
warranty.
Former foreign language chairperson
Connie Cunningham, upon
retiring last June, arranged for $1,000
– including some personal money – to
go toward the purchase of an ActivBoard
for a second foreign language
classroom at the high school.
“This has been a pilot that has
worked out extremely well for everyone,”
said Versocki. “It has proven to
be an important initiative…it gives
teachers another way to provide information
to students.”
There are two ActivBoards at the
high school and one each at the middle
school and Glen-Worden and Glendaal
elementary schools. He hopes to continue
the program in the future, with
ActivBoards planned for the Lincoln
and Sacandaga elementary schools
among other places. ❧