$349,000 technology grant will give classrooms a digitial edge
Greensburg Salem senior Michelle Hrin grabbed the pen, clicked on the interactive whiteboard and began the dissection of the frog.She was linked through long-distance-learning capabilities to her teacher, Andrea Redinger, who was watching from another classroom at the high school.
They completed the dissection Friday, and showed how the Classrooms for the Future program is expanding learning for students at the district's high school.
"It opens up so many opportunities you wouldn't have without the technology," Hrin said.
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Greensburg Salem officials received a related state grant of $349,000 this school year to buy 360 laptop computers for students and 29 laptops for teachers. They also bought 12 mobile carts, interactive whiteboards and other equipment. District officials began using the technology in classrooms in January.
Greensburg Salem, Monessen and Franklin Regional are the three districts in Westmoreland County to receive the money so far. Overall, 303 school districts and 353 high schools are involved statewide, said Leah Harris, state Department of Education spokeswoman.
The district focused its purchases in social studies and language art classes. Some of the equipment was used in English and science classes. District officials want to expand the program in English and science, and add math classes if they can receive another year's funding.
Chris Suppo, Greensburg Salem coordinator of technology, said the state grant allows the district to obtain 21st century technology to support -- and in some cases, reduce or replace -- more traditional forms of education, such as memorization of facts or lectures.
"Clearly what it does is allow teachers to transition from (classroom lecturing) to an environment where kids are actively involved in their learning," Suppo said.
"The purpose of the grant is not to buy computers. It's changing education."
Teacher Kelley Audia showed how students employed the technology for art work and used VoiceThread to leave comments. Social studies teacher Elizabeth Butler displayed an interactive competition among students on the topic of the industrial revolution.
English teacher David Moio explained how students analyze and critique books through blogs. He views students' comments for content before they are posted.
"I like how it gives students who may be too inhibited to speak in the classroom a voice to speak," Moio said.
Superintendent Thomas Yarabinetz said such technology never was imagined when he began teaching more than 35 years ago. "This wasn't even in our wildest of dreams," he said.
Senior Brooke Bonifazi said her law and economics teacher employs videos to enable students to see court trials on key U.S. Constitution issues.
Students can connect to the system from home, too.
"It can expand the amount of time kids are learning each day," senior Joshua Detar said. "The more we can integrate technology into our learning process, it helps us to be prepared for the future."