Sunday, July 23, 2006

www.CapitalCentral.com The Record

‘SMART’ technology embraced

Kathyrn Caggianelli

The Record

TROY- In the old days, teachers wrote on chalkboards from lessons they’d memorized, and students copiously took notes. But in the 21st century things have changed dramatically – at least at La Salle Institute – where LCD projectors and SMARTboards, developed by a Canadian company, linked to computers are transforming classrooms into virtual learning environments.

Every classroom is already equipped with a high-level computer as the result of school-wide technological upgrades that were initiated in 2003. Now administrators are poised to bring projectors and SMARTboards (interactive whiteboards) to every classroom as well, so teachers and students will have every possible advantage, Technology and Computer Department Chairman Brother Carl Malacalza said.

“The challenge of having one computer in every classroom is that only one person can see it,” he said.

But projectors, tapped into the computer, display images on a large whiteboard in front of the classroom and make it possible for all students to participate. Notes that the teacher “writes” on the whiteboard are saved in memory so the process is much more efficient than the old-fashioned way, Malacalza said.

The technology takes learning a step further because SMARTboards allow students and teachers to navigate around a lesson by touching the screen with a special pen or even their finger. Most software applications are compatible with the hardware being installed. Anything displayed on the computer is projected onto the whiteboard.

Teachers will be able to display different sites to students, they’ll be able to conduct internal and external correspondence with email and be better able to turn their focus on their lessons.

Malacalza teaches sixth, seventh, eighth and twelfth grades. IBM computers recently arrived for a robotics course he teaches sixth graders.

“They build robots with Legos and program them to do things,” he said.

The students and their robots are eligible to compete on a national level.

Administrators will have spent $120,000 in two years for the school’s technological enhancements. Installation costs have been modest because of the staff’s expertise, Malacalza said.

It has so far been a seamless transition for faculty and staff largely due to the vision and expertise of Malacalza, Principal Bob Herzog said.

“Teachers are excited about working with this technology. Brother Carl spearheaded this. He has a great deal of experience with this technology and has been able to instruct the faculty and staff on its use,” he said.

The advancements are offering a better quality of education because they’re getting training in new technologies and enhancing their learning experience overall, Herzog said.

The technology has allowed students to participate in a TV studio that broadcasts weekly news programs. Their goal is to use it to do daily announcements.

“I use the SMARTboard everyday in my classroom to take virtual notes that I then upload each night to my web page through www.lasalleinstitute.org. Students can then view the notes and use them as a resource if they have trouble with their homework,” said mathematics instructor Joseph Slichko.

Parents can likewise view the notes and information as a follow up, he added.

Audio and video additions are planned for the dining hall, including a projection screen, top-of-the-line projector and audio system.