Students at Burkevale Protestant Separate School are getting tech-savvy thanks to a new phenomenon in teaching.

Over the last few years, the Penetanguishene school has introduced some innovative tools to help students and teachers. Out are the chalkboards, big textbooks and lectures; in are new e-learning tools such as digital white boards, digital slates, mini laptops, and ActiVote (student response systems).

Teachers at the school are also taking advantage of programs such as:
• BrainPop.com and BrainPop Jr., which utilizes short movies to help teachers enhance lessons and reach children with various learning styles;
• Lookybook, a site teachers use to share books with students;
• SpellingCity.com, where teachers can post their weekly spelling words and students can practise, test and play games.

Grade 6 teacher Lucas Kent was the driving force behind bringing this new technology into the school. He said tools such as the ActiVotes and mini laptops are changing not only the way teachers teach, but also the way students learn.

“Once students are able to link in to technology and the Internet at anytime during the day … teachers will be able to change teaching from traditional styles of teaching to an interactive, project-based style of teaching,” he said, adding the ActiVotes are helping teachers see how students understand the lesson and concepts being taught.

“Instead of waiting until they are done their work or test, teachers can target who needs extra help before they even start working.”

Emilie Marchand, 11, said this new style of learning has made her more interested in school.

“Instead of sitting in the class listening to the teacher talk, we get to watch videos and do quizzes, write on the board,” she said. “It’s more active and it’s easier to learn because it’s more interactive.”

Classmate Deaydra Delorme, 10, who transferred to Burkevale in September, agreed: “It’s easier for me because I am a visual learner and I am finding my grades are going up since using it.”

The school began implementing the new technology about three years ago, after Kent received a Teaching Learning and Leadership Program grant to help get the message out about how to incorporate technology into classrooms and schools.

“I truly believe these tools can change education, but it will only happen if we give teachers the support they need to make the transition from traditional teaching to e-learning,” he said.

The grant has allowed him to give teachers around the province copies of his book 6 Steps to Success in Teaching With Technology; create a website to give teachers another resource to keep up on teaching with technology; and present workshops for schools and teachers interested in e-learning initiatives.

This past summer, Kent attended a conference in San Antonio, Tex., called the National Education Computing Conference. He said the trip convinced him e-learning is only going to get bigger.

“This change in education is not just a flash in the pan like many things are,” he said. “We are seeing the way we learn and teach change for the first time in centuries.”

Students and teachers are more motivated and student interaction has improved 10-fold, he said.

“Right away, student motivation goes up because they’re more excited to learn because it’s stuff they use every day,” he said. “We still have to combine this with the ‘old’ way of teaching, but it’s great.

“Teachers are also sharing more because they have more resources now. It’s definitely improved education because now it’s more a collaborative effort.”

Principal Tim Mallon said although it took a bit of time to get all the teachers on board with the new technology, each one is now excited about it and using it daily.

“Our kindergarten teacher was the last one on board – she was the most veteran teacher we had and … she didn’t necessarily see the benefit,” he said. “Anytime a new technology is brought in, it can be intimidating … but we’ve made sure that we had the support in place (to learn it) and now she is the most ardent supporter.”

Mallon acknowledged he has seen a significant improvement in his students.

“The kids seem to be more engaged, and it gives them an opportunity to have input into their own learning. In many ways, the kids are teaching the teachers,” he said. “They are realizing that there’s more than one way to learn.”

nmillion@simcoe.com