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In the Spotlight
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LearnStar School Recognized as Education Technology Leader
Many
LearnStar schools across the nation understand the
importance of integrating technology into the classroom and
the benefits of one-to-one computing. One LearnStar school
district, in particular, stands out as a model for
one-to-one computing and is leading the way for other
districts to do the same.
 Irving
Independent School District in Irving, TX received
laptop computers (one for every student) as part of a bond
package passed by voters in their community. Integration of
these laptops includes using the LearnStar Editor to create
competitions that enrich the students classroom experiences.
Dave
Schrantz teaches in the social studies department at
MacArthur High School in Irving ISD. The school has
installed LearnStar on their network and students can access
it remotely from any classroom. Schrantz creates LearnStar
competitions from the end-of-chapter review questions in his
social studies text. He uses the LearnStar countdown format
to run the questions with his students after they have
completed the chapter. He later reviews these same
questions with LearnStar at the end of the course to help
his students prepare for their final exams. He finds that
everyone gets involved and no one is afraid to participate
in the review sessions. We used another response system and
it is public humiliation! Everyone knew who was wrong.
LearnStar's anonymous capability engages every student to
their benefit, Schrantz said. Plus, the kids get
really excited!
MacArthur
High School Principal Tracie Fraley reports that many
students are reluctant to get involved in learning and that
LearnStar gets them engaged, increasing the level of
responses in classroom activities. It enables us as
teachers to see what the students are thinking without them
being afraid of speaking, said Fraley.
MacArthur
students agree. Aida Jobe and Kim Perry, seniors at
MacArthur, say that they see LearnStar engaging the shy,
quiet kids who won't raise their hand in class. And that
with LearnStar, shy kids can still participate without going
outside their bubble.
The
questions can be difficult, but yet it is the most fun we
have in class and it's a lot more exciting than if the
teacher says here's your worksheet, Perry said. We
really like to challenge ourselves with LearnStar, more so
than with other learning [tools] in school. With LearnStar,
there is no way you will share your answers with your
friends because you seriously want to win.
Irving
administrators are determined to fully implement the laptop
plan. We will continue with strategies for the IISD to
be a recognized leader in technology by broadening the
integration of technology into teaching and learning, an
Irving ISD Board of Trustees member stated. Jack Singley,
superintendent of Irving agreed, "It is IMPERATIVE that
everyone will effectively integrate technology into daily
classroom instruction."
Their
vision of fully integrated classrooms appears to be coming
true. When we received the laptops three years ago we
where told we [all staff] were going to learn how to use
them, or we were going to have to find new jobs, Fraley
reported. Well, here we are three years later and our
students are doing better than ever due, in part, to these
laptops.
 Since
voters passed the bond package for Irving ISD, the district
has risen to the top tier of districts using technology to
enhance education. Irving is the only school district in
Texas to be awarded a Vertical Team portion of a Texas
Education Association technology grant (Texas
Technology Immersion Pilot Program). Irving High
School, de Zavala Middle School, and Lively Elementary
School will share the $800,000 grant over a two year period
to implement the program.
In 2004
MacArthur won the Intel sponsored 21st Century
Schools of Distinction Award and was named the BEST OF THE
BEST for not only their technology but all aspects of school
operations. They received a $25,000 prize award. In
addition, they were awarded a Teaching and Learning grant
from the Texas Education Agency in the amount of $450,000 to
expand upon their current programs over the next three
years.
LearnStar,
Inc. is proud to be associated with such an outstanding
district and their schools, commented Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D,
president/coo of LearnStar, Inc. They are not only a
role model for other schools to follow but an inspiration to
all of us for their creativity, perseverance, and genuine
desire to enhance education with technology.
Irving ISD
now holds an annual symposium for one-to-one computing to
show other districts and schools from across the country how
to implement their technology into the classroom. Visit the
symposium site at
http://www.irvingisd.net/symposium/about.htm or the
laptop program homepage at
http://www.irvingisd.net/one2one/.
For more
information on this article, please contact:
Robyn
Wallace
robyn@learnstar.com
800-292-1505 x324 |
