Mason grade schools going tech

Grade Schools Going digital

By CHRISTIE BLECK
cbleck@lsj.com
February 11, 2011
From Ingham County Community News

MASON - It's fun for a student to write the correct answer to a math problem on a chalkboard.

It might be even more fun to write the correct answer on an interactive whiteboard.

A whiteboard, which connects to a computer and projector, is one of several forms of technology being used at the elementary level at Mason Public Schools.

Nathan Johnson, a fourth-grade teacher at Alaiedon Elementary School, gave a presentation on elementary tech trends to the Board of Education on Feb. 8.

"You should see how excited kids get when they get to come up and write on the board," Johnson said.

Johnson demonstrated simple math lessons using what he called the primary components: a computer, document camera, projector and whiteboard, stressing the importance of the computer.

"That's the thing that connects everything together," he said.

One virtual lesson involved "Antopolis Town Square" in which students learn about area and perimeter. Another lesson involved the making of five-peg triangles, again in a virtual setting with "geoboards."

It might have been safer than the traditional way of creating perimeters.

"For 26 kids to have rubber bands seems insane to me," Johnson said.

Kids also delight in learning, he pointed out.

"They get real excited about having the correct answer," Johnson said.

Linked in

With language arts and social studies, Johnson said he teaches word definitions by linking to Web sites.

"The possibilities are endless," he said.

Francisco said the comfort level is rising as technology is increasingly used in classrooms.

"This whole set-up is in enough classrooms in the district where teachers don't get apprehensive anymore," Francisco said.

Kathy Dean, principal at Steele Elementary, said in an e-mail that its classrooms are now using iPods, iPads, document cameras and interactive whiteboards as learning tools. Steele uses a technology-based learning program in its Success Learning Center. The school also is installing Wi-Fi.
"It is so much fun to watch the enthusiasm for learning that the students show when working with technology," Dean said.

"They exhibit none of the fear that some adults do when faced with digital equipment."

Superintendent Mark Dillingham said the district is in the third year of the Mason Public Schools Foundation's $150,000 Five-Year Plan to bring resources into classrooms.

This shouldn't be a hard sell to youngsters brought up in the age of iPods and iPads.

Said Bruce Barbour, executive director of curriculum, "They truly are digital natives."