computers and writing and high-tech - oh, my!

[Kate Gladstone]

Look at what follows ... and ponder its potential as a handwriting-teaching tool ...

 

http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/219621-9809-128.html

 

New technology points the way

Computer-linked, 72-inch Smart Boards help teach lessons in an engaging manner.

 

[photo] In fourth-grade teacher Angie Clevenger's class, Carrington Kaiser, 10, touches the Smart Board to answer a question. -- [photographer] Rich Miller / The [indianapolis] Star

 

By Holly VanSlambrook

Star correspondent

February 4, 2005

 

Ty Neafus scrolled down to a math answer, highlighted it and typed it in, with nary a mouse, keyboard or desktop screen in sight.Neafus, 10, used a Smart Board during a fourth-grade math lesson at Harrison Parkway Elementary recently, and all he needed to participate was his index finger."It's neat how you can use your finger to answer questions and drag things across the screen," he said, as his correct answer activated on-screen music and animation in a carnival scene.The Smart Board in fourth-grade teacher Angie Clevenger's classroom is among 22 that the school has purchased during the past four years, one for every class in Grades 1-4.They connect a teacher's desktop computer to a ceiling-mounted digital projector and an interactive, 72-inch whiteboard that has changed classroom practices at the school."Nearly everything I do is Smart Board-driven now," Clevenger said.Clevenger accesses textbook pages, online activities and saved items that are automatically projected onto the touch-sensitive whiteboard at the front of the class.Students follow whole-group lessons in math, language arts, science and social studies lessons and raise their hands for a turn at the whiteboard."I'm right here, facing the kids," Clevenger said. "Everyone's engaged, and everybody wants a turn."Principal Karen Bragg purchased the school's first Smart Board with technology funds four years ago after seeing a demonstration at a conference.Technology funds for each school are part of the district's overall annual budget.As the school acquired more Smart Boards, teachers relied less on overhead projectors and traditional, noninteractive boards, said media specialist Susan Moriarty."We never said, 'You have to use a Smart Board.' We waited for (teachers) to ask."And ask they did.The school purchased about six boards per year with technology and parent-teacher organization funds.Teachers have incorporated them into every subject area."It's very rare that I use overhead screens now," said second-grade teacher Marci Derado, who requested a board three years ago.Last week, Derado demonstrated a handwriting exercise for visiting Sand Creek Intermediate staff members.Like other Hamilton Southeastern schools, Sand Creek owns several Smart Boards and is considering acquiring more."We wanted to see how they are using Smart Boards and see how the projectors are mounted," said Principal Julie Bowman, who visited Harrison Parkway with teacher Emily Ahlfeld and technology specialist Anne Feicke.Derado accessed blank handwriting paper that projected onto the Smart Board and wrote two cursive "l's" and the word "look" with a digital marker.At her touch, the saved document ran continuously."Students writing at their desks can look up at the screen and check their work, watching how the letters are formed," she told Sand Creek observers.Smart Boards, manufactured by Smart Technologies Inc., cost about $5,000 each, with an additional $1,700 for ceiling-mounted projectors.Other Southeastern schools will continue to acquire them at their discretion, said district technology director Walter Morales."Harrison Parkway is a success story," he said last week, planning a technology presentation for School Board members."We'll see what we can learn from them and maybe pass it on to other schools."Meanwhile, Harrison Parkway teachers reconfigure lessons and share newly discovered Smart Board uses during after-school staff meetings.Clevenger saves and copies class notes for absent students, teaches research and note-taking methods and prepares for computer lab activities.Second-grade teacher Tina Johnston guides students through story writing with an online lesson.An on-screen plant grows as students select characters, settings and story parts from projected plant leaves.Marci Derado leads second-graders through daily proofreading exercises, math problems and "seat work" that they complete at their desks and check on screen.Bragg, the principal, keeps busy visiting classrooms, talking to teachers and watching it all unfold."The academic boundaries are just incredible," she said.