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21S In Action

Matas Fifth Grade Teacher Wows Students Using Interactive Board

Mrs. Grimball and Jessica Galliano, DOT intern

Rudolph Matas Elementary School teacher, Mrs. Eleanor Grimball, is getting students engaged and excited about math, science and language arts, using an interactive whiteboard in her classroom. Interactive whiteboards, such as the Promethean Activboard combine a large interactive display with a computer and a projector.

Since receiving a Promethean board in the fall of 2007, Mrs. Grimball and her students, with support from Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) intern Jessica Galliano, have learned how to create flip charts, create their own custom assessments, find resources on the internet and on the Promethean Planet website. Mrs. Grimball says, "I'm learning along with the kids."

Mrs. Grimball, in her 33rd year of teaching, says, "The interactive board is absolutely fantastic. The students seem to get a better understanding of concepts that I've tried to teach them and introduce to them before. They seem to catch on so much more quickly. It's bigger than life. No matter what you are doing it brings the real world right in to the classroom."

The students in Mrs. Grimball's class also now get excited about taking tests and Mrs. Grimball loves the instant feedback. She says, "I'll say we're going to take a test, they say 'oh good, let me get the ACTIVotes'. I say 'now you know this is going to count, this is going to be a grade'. They are thrilled to take a test. It's wonderful because you have immediate feedback. It's wonderful because you can think that you are teaching them something and if you didn't get the point across, you know right then and there because of the results. The assessment tools are fantastic."

Mrs. Grimball and Jessica Galliano, DOT intern

Mrs. Grimball believes it's important to use technology in the classroom to keep the students engaged. She says, "These kids are wired. They are aware of technology. Much more so than we are. They have MP3 players and things like that. Not all of them do, but those who don't are exposed to those that do and they know how to use this technology. When the kids are able to be engaged and involved, and they will say 'hey, let me do this'. And they're happier. They're happier to do things."

After using the Promethean interactive board for only a few months, Mrs. Grimball says, "I don't know how I would go back to teaching without it, teaching the old way. I've been teaching 32 years, this is my 33rd year. You know if I can do it, anybody can do it. This lady likes to wow the kids and to show them what they can do."

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