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High-tech teaching in Helena

E. Helena gets futuristic classroom.
The classroom of the future might look something like Mike Agostinelli’s sixth grade social studies class at East Valley Middle
School.

By LAURA TODE, IR Staff Writer –

For the past few weeks, his students have had the use of the district’s new Smart Board. It’s a computer-interactive marker board,
which can be used for nearly every instructional task Agostinelli does in his class.

Using the Smart Board and a specially equipped projector, Agostinelli can present materials from any computer application or from
any site on the World Wide Web. Instead of navigating the screen using the mouse, all a user needs to do is touch the board,
tapping twice for a double-click.
The Smart Board was obtained by the East Helena School District through a technology grant that included all the necessary
software.

Smart Board is designed and manufactured by Smart Technologies of Calgary, Alberta.
Over the past few weeks, Agostinelli’s students have become nearly as well versed in the operation of the Smart Board as their
teacher. Monday, several students gave geography presentations on different countries and continents using the Smart Board and
PowerPoint presentation software. With a firm tap on the board, different slides appeared as students covered the necessary
information.

The new technology has also cast a new spin on an old not-so-favorite activity — testing.
Using small, numbered remote controls, students can individually respond to questions written on the screen. A slide with a
question can even contain graphics all displayed together on the board. Below them, a grid shows the teacher which students have
answered the question by remote.

If they all have, then the teacher knows it’s time to move on. Using the remote, students have the opportunity to change their
answer as well. Scores are automatically recorded and can easily be moved over to the district’s grading program.

“How many would prefer their tests this way over the old pencil and paper way?” Agostinelli asked his class.
Every hand in the room shot up. It’s not just the use of new technology that the students like; it’s how the Smart Board cuts down on
interruptions during test-taking.

“You can see the question rather than have (the teacher) repeat it,” said student Morgan Leikam.
“If you break your lead then you don’t have to distract the rest of the class to go up to sharpen your pencil,” Sam Collins added.

Other students thought the large format offered more than a paper-pencil test.
“It’s easier to read and it’s easier to look at,” Mary Raymond said.
“And if you’re writing, then someone can’t look over and see your answer,” added Jon O’Dell.

In another application, users can write on the board with specially designed markers that are touch sensitive. When used on any
other surface, the markers don’t work. Instructors can use the markers to circle or underline things for emphasis, or students can work
problems on the board with the markers.

In the next week or so, the board will be more permanently installed in one of East Valley’s computer labs, so all the teachers and
their classes can have the chance to work with the new technology.
Agostinelli said the Smart Board would be especially effective in teaching students new software applications.

“I know a lot of us in the middle school — especially the sixth grade teachers — we’ll make good use of this,” he added.

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