Pilot technology program expands at Schiff Elementary

Jan Schiff Elementary first-grade teacher Christina Murat presents one of the NEO 2 wireless keyboards now used by students at the school. The school is the first in Fort Bend Independent School District to use the teaching technology. less Jan Schiff Elementary first-grade teacher Christina Murat presents one of the NEO 2 wireless keyboards now used by students at the school. The school is the first in Fort Bend Independent School District to ... more Photo: Courtesy, Schiff Elementary Photo: Courtesy, Schiff Elementary Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Pilot technology program expands at Schiff Elementary 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Jan Schiff Elementary School in Sienna Plantation has become the first school in Fort Bend ISD to utilize a new portable teaching technology that allows students to take reading and math assessments, write compositions and more at their desks, using wireless keyboards.

The school rolled out the NEO 2 portable technology to third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classes at the start of the year, following the success of a two-year pilot aimed at fifth-graders.

Students are using the portable, full-size keyboards to write compositions and take assessments in reading, math and other subjects.

Fifth-grade teacher Chris Murat, who introduced the technology, said she found students tended to write more and worked faster using the keyboard than writing by hand. Plus, she said the keyboards are durable and easy to store.

"(The students) are more motivated," she said. "Their writing improved, and they did more Accelerated Reader quizzes."

The devices have a small screen attached to the top of the keyboard, which displays up to six lines of text. Each one emits a beam, connecting it to the teacher's computer. Using this wireless connection, students are able to submit their work directly to the teacher's computer for review and printing.

Besides the benefit of each student a device, it frees up the classroom computers for students to do research and use the Internet.

"I hated to see the classroom computer used as a word processor," Murat said.

The new technology was made possible thanks initially to a $1,500 grant from the Fort Bend Education Foundation awarded to Murat after she applied for funding. After the keyboards proved so popular and effective, the PTA ponied up $18,000 to buy 90 more to outfit third- and fourth-grade classes. The funds also covered carts and modules.

"As long as teachers are using them, and it's bettering the education process in the classroom," said Gena Horak, president of the Parent Teacher Association. "It's a compliment when another grade level wants to have them."

Schiff teachers received specific training through Renaissance Learning on how to use the new keyboard technology.

Besides the wireless keyboards, classroom technologies at Schiff, located at 7400 Discovery Lane, include mobile white boards and the hand-held Student Response Systems or clickers.

The white boards allow teachers to project instructions from a hand-held pad onto a screen from anywhere in the classroom, freeing up the teacher to walk around the room. The clickers are a tool to gauge whether students understand what they are being taught, allowing teachers to adjust their lessons if needed.

Principal Mary Brewster said these technologies and now the keyboards are a boon for teaching and learning.

"(The keyboards) are another mode of instruction that we can use to help reinforce a concept," she said. "We want technology to be a natural part of our students' environment at school."

Technology is a top priority in the district which this school year implemented iACHIEVE, an individualized science and technology learning program, at 14 schools.

Throughout the district, teachers are being trained in the district's new digital technology policy, which applies to the NE02s and any other piece of technology in terms of appropriate use to enhance learning.

Teachers also have the opportunity for technology training through the district's technology conference every June.

Annette Baird is a freelance writer. She can be reached at anbaird@sbcglobal.net