InFocus Projector Brings Classroom Technology to Disadvantaged Children at Texas Middle School
In today's information age, educators and parents generally agree that technology is an imperative classroom tool in preparing a student for a successful future. Recognizing the importance of technology in the classroom is one thing. Making it a reality is another, especially when your school has little or no resources for new technology. Addressing this challenge head on is Bonnie Leech, a Mathematics Coach in Texas, who serves the economically disadvantaged children of the district’s middle school. After winning the InFocus Solution for Your Office Sweepstakes, Leech has empowered students with technology, while providing an exciting, new classroom learning experience.
The InFocus LP530 projector, screen, projector mount and remote were welcome additions to the middle school where many of the students don't have televisions at home let alone computers. "Students at most schools in this area can say they've been to the Alamo, but at an economically disadvantaged school like ours, kids have never seen it," says Leech, who has taught for over 30 years. "Using the projector in conjunction with the computer, VCR and television has enabled our teachers to show students things that are beyond their grasp and bring the world within their reach."
Within one day of receiving the projector, it was put to work. During the summer, Leech and her teammates kept the library open three hours a day to give neighborhood children a place where they could interact in a fun, learning environment. Here, the InFocus projector was used to facilitate research on the Internet, book reports and math activities. And that was only the beginning. The school year started with plans to use the projector in the classrooms as often as possible while teachers were encouraged to come up with innovative ways to teach with it.
"Our classrooms should be highly educational, but yet, still as entertaining as the most exciting video game," says Leech. "Through the use of the InFocus projector, we transplant this excitement and interest in video games to the classroom."
While making math interesting to most sixth through eighth graders would be a challenge for most, Leech has successfully put math in a dramatic context by combining use of the projector and real-world problem solving. After designing PowerPoint presentations depicting real-life scenarios (i.e., a boat that has strayed off course, a person lost in the woods etc.), Leech projects them onto the big screen for students to apply their math concepts. In this way, they can actually visualize the situation, figure out the problem and receive feedback in a new and exciting way. "Participation is not limited to just one or two computer screens," says Leech. "The entire class can share in the excitement of seeing new concepts brought to life before them."
Whether it's a math activity like these or the recent September 11th Memorial presentation projected in the auditorium to reach the entire student body, one of the greatest rewards for teachers has been the response from students. Leech notes that retention is much higher than with traditional paper and pencil methods. "Students are much more likely to remember an activity with the projector than a straight lecture. The projector helps the students see and understand why they're learning what they are. And the kids love it!" This is evident in the increased participation, interactivity and cooperative atmosphere Leech and her teammates are witnessing in the classroom.
Students are not the only ones to benefit from the projector. Teachers regularly use it to facilitate staff development at as many as nine schools in the district. In addition, Leech has found it indispensable at numerous workshops and conferences she attends across the state of Texas and plans to take it to this year's National Math Convention in San Antonio.
Leech sees the projector's portability as one of its main advantages, noting that theirs gets maximum use because teachers find it so quick and easy to set up, carry and move from one location to another. This makes it convenient to share between classrooms and schools, as well for travel.
With the school's continued focus on providing students and teachers with innovative ways to interact through technology, it seems likely that the powerful results they're already seeing will continue to grow. Just last year, the middle school’s grades on the yearly Texas state test went up an average of 90 points. Leech attributes much of this success to technology in the classroom.
"My future plans are to continue to get teachers excited about using technology in the classroom so we can write grants to purchase additional InFocus projectors. With more and more technology in the classroom and the ability to give kids a more hands-on learning experience, the test scores will continue to rise. It's a whole new ballgame."
