Technology in Minnetonak Public Schools
Posted by Steve Frazier
Our Program on March 9th was a presentation by David Eisenmann, the director of instructional technology for the Minnetonka School District. A former teacher, he took over the department a few years ago, and it is his responsibility to oversee the installation of the new equipment, and to instruct the teachers in how to use the new devices and systems.
"SmartBoards" are now "Old" technology, and these boards are in every classroom in the district. In addition, every classroom has a sound-amplifying system that allows the teacher to be heard equally well in every portion of the room (no sleeping in the back of class!). "SmartTables" are in use in classes for younger children, where they can sit around the table and do learning exercises using the table the same ways as their older siblings use the SmartBoard.
Students are issued electronic devises similar to a TV remote, and the teacher can interject questions in his teaching material, and the kids can respond with answers transmitted from the hand devices. The teacher can then check the data as he proceeds and see what points the kids aren't getting, and alter his teaching to fit the learning curve of the kids. The electronic answers also show the teacher which class-members are not understanding the lesson, aiding him in directing extra effort to the ones with problems with the lesson. Technology is such that the kids' own cell phone can also be used in answering these quizzes. If a lesson is especially difficult for a student, the teacher can download the material to a student's IPod, and the student can listen to the lesson on his own time at home.
Combinations of miniaturized equipment can be utilized to present material on any flat surface, making almost anything function as a SmartBoard. Presentations such as Powerpoints will be obsolete with new technologies (how many of us have yet to make a "powerpoint presentation"?).
Minnetonka school are among the leaders in this country in the utilization of technology in the classroom. It will be interesting to see the changes in this field in the next five years. (Story by Tad Shaw)
"SmartBoards" are now "Old" technology, and these boards are in every classroom in the district. In addition, every classroom has a sound-amplifying system that allows the teacher to be heard equally well in every portion of the room (no sleeping in the back of class!). "SmartTables" are in use in classes for younger children, where they can sit around the table and do learning exercises using the table the same ways as their older siblings use the SmartBoard.
Students are issued electronic devises similar to a TV remote, and the teacher can interject questions in his teaching material, and the kids can respond with answers transmitted from the hand devices. The teacher can then check the data as he proceeds and see what points the kids aren't getting, and alter his teaching to fit the learning curve of the kids. The electronic answers also show the teacher which class-members are not understanding the lesson, aiding him in directing extra effort to the ones with problems with the lesson. Technology is such that the kids' own cell phone can also be used in answering these quizzes. If a lesson is especially difficult for a student, the teacher can download the material to a student's IPod, and the student can listen to the lesson on his own time at home.
Combinations of miniaturized equipment can be utilized to present material on any flat surface, making almost anything function as a SmartBoard. Presentations such as Powerpoints will be obsolete with new technologies (how many of us have yet to make a "powerpoint presentation"?).
Minnetonka school are among the leaders in this country in the utilization of technology in the classroom. It will be interesting to see the changes in this field in the next five years. (Story by Tad Shaw)