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Using technology to keep classrooms 'engaged'

Bruce Matlock

Fifth-grade student Damaja Watts works with the new Mimio Interactive Board on Wednesday in his N.B. Mills classroom.

By Chyna Broadnax | Statesville R&L

Published: October 29, 2009

N.B. Mills Elementary School has taken a step to ensure its students are equipped with 21st-century skills and become even more technologically savvy.

The school has recently outfitted each classroom with a Mimio board, a projector and an accompanying laptop.

Mimio boards convert a standard whiteboard into an interactive whiteboard.

"The generation we have now grew up with video games," said N.B. Mills teacher Tiffany Britt. "We have to change our teaching styles to make sure we are keeping them engaged."

The new technology is implemented at all grade levels, enhancement courses and physical education classes.

Britt said staff members researched how they could give students more opportunities to use technology to learn and how to better prepare them for higher learning.

So far, the teachers are happy with the Mimios.

Britt said she uses her board all day during her lessons. She uses the technology for end-of-grade preparation, quizzes and subjects like math, reading and science.

"Technology has changed so much that if we don't start preparing them in elementary school, there's
no way they'd be ready to go out into the work force," she said.

Teachers say they can already see the difference the technology makes in their students' engagement and learning.

Fifth-grader Demaja Watts, 10, said he enjoys using the new board.

"I like that better because you can write on the board," he said. "You can learn more. It's cool stuff."

Dante Menscer likens the Mimio to his Nintendo gaming system.

"It's all this cool stuff," he said. "It's more like a video game."

Isiash Clark, 11, added: "We have fun with it and you can do activities that can help you."

The Mimio boards were made possible via a $22,500 grant from Lowe's, a matching grant from Iredell-Statesville Schools and school funds. The project's total cost was nearly $80,000.

Info Box
The school will host a 21st-Century Classroom Night at 6 p.m. Nov. 5.
School employees invite the public to see their latest classroom technology.