BaldwinCity.com

Some teachers bask in it, while others shy away from it.

Many teachers enjoy the improvements and advancements in technology, yet some are content in being old-fashioned.

The new age of technology is upon us and it's changed the way students are learning, especially at the elementary level. The Baldwin School District has upgraded its equipment and tools during the past year, bringing itself further into the 21st century.

"Technology is a tool and, as an educator, if I'm trained on how to do it more correctly, I can more efficiently educate students using that technology," Supt. Paul Dorathy said. "Students have more motivation for technology things than for the old paper and pencil things. That's just because of our society. To keep their interests, we've got to use technology as a tool to educate them."

A pair of elementary teachers in the district have welcomed the technological improvements. Joe Heins, a fourth-grade teacher at Baldwin Elementary School Intermediate Center, and Heather Wallsmith, a first- and second-grade teacher at Marion Springs Elementary School, are two of the many educators using the new equipment.

"I love technology and I'm used to using it," Heins said. "For me, it's a lot easier, because I don't have to go make copies or overheads. It takes out several steps. Plus, it's very authentic for the kids."

Other teachers are beginning to use technology as a teaching tool, instead of just a research tool. Some of the upgrades included Smartboards, ELMO document cameras, airliners, projectors and new computers.

"Most of our staff is really behind all of the new stuff," Dorathy said. "It's kind of a good thing, because most of the staff is saying 'please get me more.' As the superintendent, that's really a good thing. If we get it in the classrooms, they will use it."

ELMOs at elementaries

Wallsmith has become a big fan of the ELMO document camera that was purchased by the MSES Community Service Organization. She has even been accused of hogging the new addition to the school.

"There is a sign-up sheet and no one else ever signs up," Wallsmith said. "I keep asking if anyone else wants to use the ELMO and they say no. Our CSO purchased it for our school and so far I'm the only one using it. There is kind of a joke that I hog it, but other teachers have said they can use it, but just don't have quite the need yet.

"Honestly, I think most of the teachers know it's a very good tool for younger kids, because you do so much displaying of their work or showing it to them," she said. "If you think about first grade and you give them a math book, they can't read the directions in it. For about half of the year, they can't read the directions. I think most of the teachers understand that. It cuts my teaching and explanation time in half."

The ELMO, which also acts as a projector, can be used many different ways. A book can be placed beneath it and the pages will be projected onto a screen. It can also be used much like a microscope or a digital camera. Wallsmith believes is helps her students with reading and writing.

"It's definitely more fun than the traditional teaching methods," she said. "When we got the ELMO, the kids were just enthralled with it. The kids love that they can do their math on the white board, because it's just projected on there for them. We can read a class book on it, also. If you think about a kid who has a hard time seeing or is in the back looking at the book, it's not like that anymore. There have been a lot of things that have made teaching unbelievable."

Saving time while teaching has been a big advantage for teachers when using equipment such as the ELMO. Heins has found the ELMO to be useful in her classroom as well.

"We use it with our textbooks or anytime we are reading a story," Heins said. "We've also used it for fractions. It's very handy, because you don't have to make all of the overheads. That saves a lot of time."

Students are 'hardwired'

As advancements in technology appear everyday, teachers add more to the wish list for the classroom and students become more technologically savvy.

"I am a second-tier teacher so this is all I know about," Heins said about technology. "That is what we were taught in college, so this is right up with what we were doing. I enjoy how my kids learn. I think they are almost born hardwired anymore."

Teachers have been forced to adjust their methods from the traditional chalkboard to the innovative Smartboards, ELMOs and airliners.

"It's definitely made things more hands-on for the kids," Heins said. "The airliner has done that, too. That's the one thing that I find to be very handy, because there are so many applications the students can use on it. What's nice about it, as a teacher, is that I can move around the room and let the students use it."

Of course, it's not just at the elementary level. Baldwin High School teachers are also using projectors and newer computer applications in their classrooms and on projects. BHS social studies teacher Jason Crowder uses a school-issued laptop computer with a projector nearly everyday.

"Obviously there is still some traditional teaching methods that go on in my classroom," Crowder said. "Each year I am able to create more online projects for the kids with Powerpoint or iMovie. I think the kids enjoy it more, because there is more technology being used. Anytime you incorporate technology, it gets the kids ready to go."

Crowder has also used the Internet for teaching. He will watch videos on www.youtube.com in his classroom for educational purposes.

"A lot of people think youtube is something for kids to get on and goof around with," he said. "You can pretty much find any video you want on youtube. Just recently we covered the Civil Rights Movement and I found numerous speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. It's not just for kids to goof around with, it can be used for educational purposes."

Wallsmith also has her students do projects using the new equipment. The project she was most proud of was done for a foreign exchange student earlier this year.

"We had a student who was from India and we knew she was going back to India in February and so all year the kids have taken pictures with the digital camera," she said. "They put those on a CD and we went and made a slide show for her."

As the district continues purchasing newer technology equipment for its staff, the teachers and students are learning more.

"It's helped my teaching immensely," Wallsmith said of the technology upgrades. "I am amazed how well fifth graders could use things like Powerpoint or Appleworks. Now first graders can do the same thing. I think it's just a different way to teaching. It appeals to kids today."