School starting wireless classrooms
Creek school using wireless projectors, iPads and laptops
Jared Bovinet is at the back of the classroom, using apps on his iPad. But he's not a distracted student; he's the teacher.
Bovinet is part of a new program at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek where teachers are supplied with a wireless projector connected to Apple TV, a MacBook laptop and an iPad for themselves and every student. Now entirely wireless, he's free to roam the classroom as he's teaching.
"It's a very positive teaching experience," said Bovinet, who teaches French and language structure classes for sixth- to eighth-graders. "The iPad brings another dimension to the classroom. I can teach from any point in the room. That helps keep students engaged and focused because they take pride in their work, and teaching from the back of the classroom lets me know if they are doing what they are supposed to do."
The school is rolling out the program this year after a successful pilot program last year, which Bovinet was a part of. By the end of this year, teachers in the English, social sciences, world language and English as a second language departments will all be using the iPads and wireless projectors to help teach their classes, said Joan McGettigan, director of educational and information technology.
"Students' examples or homework can go right up on the screen instead of a student having to read their work out loud or go up to the board and write out the solution," McGettigan said. "Our classrooms now represent the 21st century."
Teachers also will be using the iPads and other technology with pre-kindergarten through third-grade students, but they won't be getting their own iPads like the older students — they will be sharing with a partner.
"The iPad is such a young tool and great for every grade level," McGettigan said.
"It makes lessons so much more interactive," Bovinet said. "It goes from being passive where kids sit and listen to engaging and better reflects where we are in society with communication and technology. Kids all want to use it, too. Everyone is so engaged, so it's easier for us as teachers, and no one can use the excuse that they left their homework at home."
Bovinet is part of a new program at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek where teachers are supplied with a wireless projector connected to Apple TV, a MacBook laptop and an iPad for themselves and every student. Now entirely wireless, he's free to roam the classroom as he's teaching.
"It's a very positive teaching experience," said Bovinet, who teaches French and language structure classes for sixth- to eighth-graders. "The iPad brings another dimension to the classroom. I can teach from any point in the room. That helps keep students engaged and focused because they take pride in their work, and teaching from the back of the classroom lets me know if they are doing what they are supposed to do."
The school is rolling out the program this year after a successful pilot program last year, which Bovinet was a part of. By the end of this year, teachers in the English, social sciences, world language and English as a second language departments will all be using the iPads and wireless projectors to help teach their classes, said Joan McGettigan, director of educational and information technology.
"Students' examples or homework can go right up on the screen instead of a student having to read their work out loud or go up to the board and write out the solution," McGettigan said. "Our classrooms now represent the 21st century."
Teachers also will be using the iPads and other technology with pre-kindergarten through third-grade students, but they won't be getting their own iPads like the older students — they will be sharing with a partner.
"The iPad is such a young tool and great for every grade level," McGettigan said.
"It makes lessons so much more interactive," Bovinet said. "It goes from being passive where kids sit and listen to engaging and better reflects where we are in society with communication and technology. Kids all want to use it, too. Everyone is so engaged, so it's easier for us as teachers, and no one can use the excuse that they left their homework at home."
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