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Connections Program offers unique learning approach
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008
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Jennifer Larson
Community Editor
A Wyoming Elementary classroom is one of only eight schools in North America chosen to participate in the SMART Technologies Connections Program. Last spring, 6th grade teacher Cheryl Runquist was selected as a grant recipient, entitling her and Wyoming Elementary to a SMART Board, Senteo Remote System and an Airliner Slate. Two other 6th grade classes use Runquist’s room for lessons during the week as well.
“We are so tech savvy now,” she said. “Hopefully, every classroom will have one eventually.”
There are a total of 57 SMART boards in the Forest Lake Area Schools District with Wyoming having six. Mounted on a wall, interactive SMART Boards are really electronic whiteboards that utilize a data projector to display the output of a computer. It is touch sensitive so a user can write with a finger or “ink-less pen,” enabling manipulation in much of the same way as a computer touchscreen feature.
“Anything you can do on a computer you can do with the SMART Board,” Runquist said.
She said the remote system is pretty cool. Students are able to take their spelling tests from the devices. Once completed, students can see how well they did compared to their fellow classmates all from the remote.
Connections is an innovative learning program that equips upper elementary schools with leading-edge technology and promotes collaborative projects between them. Teachers and selected students from eight schools across the United States and Canada will meet for a week of friendship, adventure and learning.
Deena Zenyk, coordinator of the Connections Program, will be making a presentation to Runquist and her eight students who will be attending Camp Chestermere in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from May 28-June 2.
Those students are Lauren Riedeman, Lindsey Tilton, Joel Johnson, Andrew Bowes, Mikayla Buckley, Mackenzie VanBuskirk, Colton Forsythe and Natalie Wright. In addition to staying at the camp, they will visit Banff National Park, the Royal Tyrell Museum and the Calgary Zoo among a few area attractions.
Calgary, Alberta is home to SMART Technologies. By collaborating on projects and communicating with each other via e-mail, students have the opportunity to develop new friendships, discover common bonds and share experiences with their peers across North America.
“We have all been quite busy this school year doing projects for our program,” Runquist said, “and learning about these other schools.”
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