Bigfork Schools explore new tech

The Bigfork School Board and several teachers within the district discussed new technology that is being used in the classrooms during their meeting on March 21.

Teachers were divided into two teams, and each individual had a personal goal for extending their use of technology in their lessons. Laptops, smartboards, iPads and other high-tech interactive lessons were just the tip of the iceberg, according to Bigfork district educator Cynthia Wilondeck.

English teacher Mary Sullivan is using a smartboard to turn revising writing into an interactive process with all of the students working together. She also shared with the board how using My Big Campus allows students to get their assignments and turn them in online when completed.

“I can grade them (the students assignments) without ever touching a piece of paper,” Sullivan said. “It’s wonderful.”

Economics and government teacher Stormy Taylor spoke about how having access to up-to-date election and stock market information has made her lessons more effective. Her students are also playing a stock market game with 180 teams online. One of Bigfork’s teams is in second place.

Many of the teachers have been using clickers, or running applications that turn students cell phones and iPods into clickers.

Clickers essentially turn quizzes into a game show format where the students answer multiple-choice questions with a handheld device and the scores are sent to the teacher. This allows the teacher to have instant quiz results and know where students are struggling without the layover time it takes to grade each quiz manually.

Special Education teacher Karly Wisher also shared a positive experience with the school board about using iPads with “high need” students. Wisher and the much of the staff use various iPad apps (applications) to reinforce lessons in the form of a video game.

“They (iPads) are a great motivator for behavior students.” Wisher said. “They don’t realize they are learning while having fun.”

Bigfork Elementary School Principal Matt Jensen told the board a cart of 20 iPads costs $13,000.

“I see them using it every day,” Jensen said. “The iPad just makes sense.”

Superintendent Cynthia Clary said the first thing the schools need to do is make sure the staff has sufficiate training for these tools and feels comfortable using them. Clary also wants to make sure the students and staff know how to appropriately use them.

Clary noted that technology changes constantly and Bigfork Schools are trying to keep their students “as close to the cutting edge as possible.” She foresees the schools buying more iPads and placing them where they will be of most assistance to the learning process.

“We’ve been talking about technology all year and need to keep it in proper perspective,” Clary said. “It’s not the end all be all, and needs to be used appropriately.”