Students, technology to take center stage Thursday | News

BEAUFORT CO., SC (WTOC) - Students and teachers from all Beaufort County public schools will demonstrate how cutting-edge classroom technology is improving student learning Thursday, Feb. 23.

The district-wide showcase will begin at 6 p.m. at Pritchardville Elementary School in Bluffton.

“School technology supports effective classroom learning the same way that medical technology supports effective health care and financial technology supports effective business systems,” said Superintendent Valerie Truesdale in a news release. “Our goal is to integrate technology seamlessly into our academic programs so that it’s part of our foundation. Student learning is the goal, and technology can help us get there.”

Cory Tressler, the school district’s Director of Virtual Learning, said that students as young as kindergarten age are using robotics to learn computer programming, math, science and basic engineering skills.

“These students grew up using this new technology, so they aren’t intimidated the way adults can be,” Tressler said. “To them, these are just tools that are part of their everyday learning, from math and science to reading and writing.”

In addition to Thursday night’s elementary-level robotics challenge, each district school will be assigned its own classroom to spotlight some of the ways that it is using technology to improve student learning. At least two district high schools will showcase their high-tech student robotics efforts.

Thursday night will also be the official launch of the school district’s “Virtual Library,” which is an online resource designed to give students and educators web-based access to eBooks and audio books purchased by the district for use on laptop computers, tablets, eBook readers and smartphones.

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