The Halifax Regional School Board in Halifax, Nova Scotia, recently announced that it will integrate new technology into its fifth-grade classrooms, according to a Halifax News report. The new classroom technology integration is part of a system-wide project that began last year, when fourth-grade classrooms were outfitted with netbooks and LCD classroom projectors.
Classroom technology, like a tablet computer, document camera or HDMI projector, can enrich a student's educational experience and help him or her embrace academics organically. Gerard Costard, the coordinator of information technology for the Halifax school board, noted that technology is a part of even the youngest student's everyday life, and integrating that technology into the classroom will only make the student a more comfortable and engaged learner.
Costard also indicated to the source that the tools are as useful to teachers as they are to students.
"For teachers, LCD projectors are a great tool instead of a black- or whiteboard," Costard said. "A lot of information is web-based, so if a teacher wants to demonstrate how to do research they can demonstrate it right onto the computer and onto the LCD projector."
Halifax officials also took into consideration the manner in which the different tech tools would collaborate and interact to create a comprehensive lesson plan. Information could be passed, for instance, from an interactive whiteboard to a student's netbook, seamlessly integrating a unique learning experience while limiting time spent troubleshooting problematic equipment.
