Faith Christian Academy - September 2009

LION’S PRIDE

361 MAIN ST. • P.O. BOX 670 • HURT • VA • 24563 • 434-324-8276 • WWW.FCAVIRGINIA.COM

Above left, Matt Worley finds a Canadian Province on the Promethean Board. Center, Mr. Papet uses the Promethean Board toshow Russ Kelly Canada. Right, Mrs. Adams helps second grader Anna McDonald use one of the new computers.

INTERACTIVE LEARNINGThe sixth grade history class recently took

three field trips — without leaving school.Marty Papet, who teaches middle school

history and Bible, showed three virtual fieldtrips on the Promethean Board in his class-room. The Promethean Board, a digital white-board with an audio system and projector,allows teachers to weave video clips, interac-tive maps, and Powerpoint presentations intotheir lessons.

“The Promethean Boards are state-of-the-art and give our teach-ers and students accessto the most cutting-edge classroom tech-nology available,” saidAdministrator LisaMoore. “Our teachersare able to engage stu-dents in new and excit-ing ways with theseinteractive white-boards.”

The PrometheanBoards were purchasedwith grant funds

through the school’s 2009 TechnologyInitiative, which also included upgrading theschool’s two computer labs (see story on page2).

“Technology is becoming more a tool ofeducation than a means to itself. Rather thanjust teaching students to use the computer, weare using their natural interest and skills intechnology to capture their attention and

engage their minds in greater learning,” saidMoore.

During a recent history class, sixth graderswatched with amazement as polar bearsroamed snow-covered Churchill, Canada.They learned about Alberta’s famous CalgaryStampede, the largest outdoor rodeo in theworld, while watching a promotion clip.

“I think the Promethean Boards are verycool,” said sixth grader Alissa Thomas. “It

has helped me learn new things. I think com-ing to school is fun now.”

The students also smiled while watchingsnowmobiles whisk around chillySaskatchewan. The virtual trips tied in neatlyinto the 45-minute lesson on Canada’s PrairieProvinces, which the students are studying.

“We can actually see what the teachers aretalking about,” said Matt Worley, a sixthgrader. “I think we’re learning a little more.”

The two or three-minute video tours keepstudents engaged in the overall lesson, whichis presented through Powerpoint slides.

“The boards combined with the BroadbandInternet link allows the teacher to bring theworld into the classroom,” said Papet. “In his-tory class, virtual field trips are the norm sinceI’m able to take them just about anywhere tosee just about anything that we study via theInternet and built-in audio-visual componentsof our new setup.”

SCHOOL-WIDE USEEach secondary classroom has a

Promethean Board and new Dell laptop com-puter to prepare the interactive lessons.Elementary and preschool teachers take turnsbringing their classes to the lab for lessons.

“The kindergarten through second gradeteachers use the Promethean Boards to playvarious math and phonics games. ThePromethean Boards help to re-enforce whatthe kids are learning in the classroom with

Preschooler Emily Oberman finds anumber on the Promethean Board.

See TECHNOLOGY Page 2

“It has helpedme learn newthings. I think

coming to school is fun

now.”- Alissa Thomas,

Sixth Grade

numbers and phonics,” said tech-nology teacher Ruth AnneAdams.

The Promethean Boards havebeen used for everything, fromthird grade being shown the lifecycle of a chick, to art class view-

ing vari-ous worksof art forgroup dis-c u s s i o n .The boardhas been agreat toolfor videoclips on

different artists and art tech-niques, Adams added.

Preschool students recentlyused the Promethean Board toidentify numbers. The studentssmiled as they took turns movingnumbers on the interactive board.

DIFFERENT USESPromethean Boards and associ-

ated software provide an interac-tive learning environment withstudents performing tasks at theboard, including filling intables/matrices, performing mapmanipulations, and completingonline interactive quizzes.

“The boards provide a meansof reaching multiple learningstyles. This is particularly impor-tant, since different students havedifferent learning styles andstrengths. Some are visual, someauditory, and some perform betterin an environment that allowsthem to interact with or manipu-late the material,” added Papet.

Secondary teachers are usingthe boards daily with differentapplications.

For instance, middle schoollanguage arts teacher LynnMiller recently had students take

turns highlighting the nouns, pro-nouns, and adjectives in a para-graph on the Promethean Board.

History teachers use the boardfor interactive maps and virtualtours. Math classes work outproblems on the board.

“It’s rewarding to walk downthe secondary hall and see eachclass using this technology in adifferent way. The constant ineach class is the positive responsefrom the students,” said Moore.

STUDENT RESPONSEStudent feedback has been

great and attention spans aremarkedly improved, said Papet,who teachers every middleschooler twice a day and ninthgraders for Bible.

“The norm is rapidly becomingstudents who are able to stay withthe material for the full 50 min-utes of class and who typicallyare on the edge of their seats wait-ing to see what will happen nextduring the instruction,” he said.

Students are extremely excitedabout the new technology.

“I enjoy them and think theymake learning more fun. It makesclass more interesting and easierto learn,” said eighth grader

CaDedra Goard.Ben Dunn, another eighth

grader, agrees. “It is more enjoyable in class.”

Sophomore Jennifer Krautersaid teachers use the boardsthroughout the day.

“It has helped the students andteachers interact more with a newtwist on learning. I think they arevery helpful and interesting,” shesaid.

Zach Clay, a sophomore, adds,“I think they make learning moreinteresting.”

The new technology, includingcomputer labs, has made a hugeimpact on the school.

“Several students have men-tioned how they love the newPCs, the new look, the speed, andthe faster Internet access. Both ofour computer labs are much moreefficient with the new Office2007 and in conjunction with thePromethean Boards, have openeda way for the teachers to spice uptheir lessons with all types ofmedia, which helps to grab andkeep the students attention,”added Adams.

Parents may observe a classwith the Promethean Boards tosee how this technology isimpacting students. Please callthe school to schedule a visit.

Faith Christian Academy’sleadership announced plans toinvest $40,000 in cutting-edgetechnology last year.

Nearly eight months later, theschool is reaping the fruits of thatlabor.

FCA has been blessed withseven Promethean Boards; 22new Dell desktop computers;eight laptops for teachers; a newprinter for each of the school’stwo computer labs; and a busi-ness-class, Comcast cableInternet connection.

The school received a gener-ous matching grant last spring to

help fund the 2009 TechnologyInitiative. This summer, theschool received a $15,000 tech-nology grant from the J.T.-Minnie Maude Charitable Trustin Danville. In addition, theschool received several othergifts for technology.

The entire project has beenpaid for through grants and dona-tions. The school did not have touse operating expenses or tuitionfunds for any part of the technol-ogy initiative.

The school used these funds togive its students state-of-the-artclassroom technology by pur-

chasing seven PrometheanBoards.

The secondary computer labwas upgraded with brand-newDell computers. The elementarylab also received a face-lift witha mix of new Dell computers andsome of the secondary’s comput-ers, which are a few years old.

The school chose to lease thecomputers rather than purchase,allowing the school to upgradeevery three years. This will allowthe school to maintain the mostup-to-date computers possible.The first year of the lease hasbeen paid for.

Adding a Comcast CableInternet line was the final pieceof the puzzle. St. Victoria’sCatholic Church, the school’sneighbor, allowed the school todig a trench onto the church’sproperty to connect to Comcast.

Faith Christian Academyreceived support on this projectfrom: The J.T. Minnie MaudeCharitable Trust, Moore’sCharitable Trust, Alan and RuthAnne Adams, WalterMcCormick, St. Victoria’sCatholic Church, Robert andAlice Dunn, and Mr. and Mrs.George Coffey.

Grants pave the way for FCA’s technology upgrades

TECHNOLOGY From Page 1

Eighth gradersJared Dalton (seated) andBen Dunn useone of the newcomputers inthe secondarylab. Right, Mrs.Adams helpspreschooler P.J.Lampkin find anumber withthe PrometheanBoard in theelementary lab.

NEXTMONTH:Developinga Christianworldview

FCA’s technolgy instruction• Kindergarten-fifth grade has a

weekly technology class.• Kindergartners learn computer

basics.• First grade through fourth grade

learn Microsoft Office 2007. Theinstruction is through various proj-ects which are integrated with theirclassroom curriculum.

• Fifth grade begins each yearwith Mavis Beacon, which teacheskeyboarding skills through an easy-to-use software application.

• Sixth through eighth gradersparticipate in technology class twice

a week. They learn Microsoft Office2007 applications.

• Spanish I and II along with Latinis offered through online courses.

• High school students have theoption of taking AP classes onlinethrough Virtual Virginia.

• Ninth through 12th graders areable to work on the yearbook withAdobe Photoshop and with anonline software package calledLifetouch.

• Secondary students regularlyuse the computer lab for class proj-ects, research, and papers.