Marble Falls students, teachers showcase technology in education
MARBLE FALLS — McCray Jacobs’ hand darted across the screen of a large white board in a Spicewood Elementary School classroom. He tapped a series of numbers that lit up.
Using the screen, Jacobs completed a series of addition problems, ones kindergarten students typically aren’t using three months into the academic year.
Jacobs and several fellow students have been using the board — called a Smart Board — in preparation for the Marble Falls Independent School District’s Technology Showcase Dec. 3 at Colt Elementary School, 2200 Manzano Mile.
“This technology helps students learn much quicker,” said second-grade teacher Cari Orts.
The showcase is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and is open to the public.
On the same day, the district’s University Interscholastic League academic meet and MFISD food fair are also being held at Colt.
Organizers say the Technology Showcase is a chance for the community to see how students across the district use technology in their classroom.
Most projects and displays won’t be extremely complicated — though last year a high school project revolved around robotics, said Judy Pipes, district instructional technology coordinator.
On Dec. 3, Jacobs and three other Spicewood kindergartners will show how they use the Smart Board while learning math.
“I think people will be amazed at what even kindergarten students do with this technology,” Orts said.
Meanwhile, four of her second-graders are also participating. They created an interactive book using the Smart Board, computers, a camera and a voice recorder.
Technology properly used is a boon to teachers and students, Orts said.
“Students pick up subjects so much quicker,” she added.
On the first day of class, she demonstrated how to use the board for a math lesson.
“On the second day, I basically stepped back and they took over and went from there,” she said.
Now her students are solving math problems with numbers as high as 400.
“That’s beyond where we’d normally be at this point in the year,” she said.
Along with the student projects and demonstrations, Pipes said several teachers will be give programs on how technology is used in the classroom.
“It’s all open to the public,” she said.
Technology not only helps in the education process, it has become a necessity, Orts said.
“For today’s students, this is where their future is — technology,” she said. “So the sooner we can utilize it, the better.”