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May 25, 2007
This week’s news from PPS
New teaching technology introduced to Petersburg Public Schools’ classrooms; Petersburg†High School alumna (2001) Jean Porter recognized at national convention for research into future of biotechnology education.
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A titan of mythology inspires new teaching technology in the PPS
Blandford Elementary School in Petersburg may appear to be an ordinary school ñ but it has a high-tech secret.
It was chosen out of all the schools in the city to pilot Promethean Activboards, and every teacher in the school has now been trained in their use.
The company borrows its name from a mythological Greek hero, Prometheus, who advanced civilization by borrowing the secret of fire from the gods.
Just as that hero unleashed creativity and productivity for mankind, Promethean is determined to do the same for education, its website states. (See http://www.prometheanworld.com/ for more information).
Activboards are high-tech, interactive ìwhite boardsî ñ the 21st century answer to the oh-so-obsolete chalkboard.
Using a special pen, the teacher can write a lesson on the board by hand and then save it digitally for re-use later. He or she can also share it within the home school district — or online with the world. And the instructor can also import lessons from other Promethean board users. Educational video programs that are already familiar to teachers, such as United Streaming, can also be played on the boards.
ìThere is an endless amount of information but it is very simple to find,î said Joe Talaiver, a PPS technology expert who has assisted with the teacher training.
A teacher could search for material about the late womenís suffragist Susan B. Anthony and import to the board photographs of her, her birthplace, even related word-blank activities to enrich the learning process. Maps and graphics can be downloaded onto the board as well, saving the costs of purchasing paper versions.
The boards are also meant to be durable ñ something of importance in a classroom setting.
Combined with a device for individual students, called Activote, the technology also allows teachers to determine almost instantly what percentage of a class has answered a question correctly. Students can respond via Activote to questions, without having to worry about their peers teasing them if they suggested a wrong answer.
The pilot program is at no cost to the Petersburg School division ñ not even for the 70 Activote student response devices, Talaiver said.
ìIt revolutionizes the classroom,î he said.
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PHS alumna digs life on the farm
Jean Porter [daughter of Bertha Porter, who teaches at Westview Elementary School] graduated from Petersburg High School in 2001, number three in her class. Six years later, she is a graduate student at Southern Illinois University who has recently been recognized for her research into plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Porter placed third in graduate oral research at the convention of the National Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences held in Birmingham, Alabama this year. She is part of SIUís newly chartered chapter of that group.
Specifically, sheís focused on the future of biotechnology education, with particular emphasis on agriculture teachers.
How did a city girl from Petersburg become fascinated with agriculture and end up in farm-filled Illinois?
Porter will be attending a family graduation in Petersburg the week of June 10 to 16 and will be available for media interviews to answer that question. She can be reached at 804-731-2808.
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