Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools May 2014 | Page 19

Union Elementary fourth graders present at state conference

Over the past few years, Union Elementary has changed drastically
NCTIES is a state technology conference, which is attended, by
in the world of technology. With the support of county officials, who want
hundreds of education professionals across the state and in the southeast
to produce globally competitive students as they go out into a world
region. Each year at the conference, there is a student showcase where
of 21st Century technology, as
current North Carolina students set
well as an administrative staff at
up a booth and present new and
the school who want to see their
upcoming technology that is being
students succeed, Union Elementary
used in their classrooms.
has introduced many new kinds
This year only three schools from
of technology to the teachers and
Union County were chosen to go and
students over the past few years.
Union Elementary was thrilled to be
If you had entered their
the only elementary school from the
classrooms just a few years ago
county accepted. On March 6, 2014,
you would have seen the majority
eight fourth-grade students, along
of their teachers using overhead
with Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Williams
projectors as their newest
set off to Raleigh to showcase the
technology tool.
wonderful learning going on in this 4th
The classrooms today look much
grade classroom.
different. Upon entering classrooms
There, they met Mrs. Chisum, who
today, you see each classroom
was already at NCTIES to present at
equipped with a Promethean Board,
another session. At first, the students
or Dell Short Throw Projector, which
were nervous about speaking with
allows teachers and students to
adults they had never met before,
work interactively as a group, or
but after the first few minutes they
independently.
were at ease and having a great time
Teachers and students also
sharing their ePortfolios.
Top Row (L-R): Mrs. Jennifer Williams, Will Guion, Keniston
use a wide range of other types
Fourth grader Savannah Langston
Mullis, Savannah Langston, Kyerra Miller-Griffin, Mrs. Michelle
of technology, which includes,
said, “I learned how to make
Johnson. Bottom Row (L-R): Madison Bess, Michael Stallings,
Jayden McDougall, Riley Pope, Mrs. Gina Chisum.
document cameras, ActivExpression
presentations and documents. It is
voting devices, slates, wands, and
easier to type than to write by hand.
most recently all students in grades 3-5 have their own laptops to use
It is also easier for me to organize the work I do on my website.”
at school.
Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Chisum were very impressed
The new 1:1 environment in the upper grades has opened up a whole
with how well spoken and professional these students were during the
new world of opportunities for Union’s students. “Based on the research of showcase.
Piaget, Vygotsky, and Von Glasersfeld, students learn best by doing and
Mrs. Williams said, “I have watched these students mature and grow
having choice in their learned outcomes. We find that when students can
since they were in Kindergarten. Seeing them so confident in what they
construct products that demonstrate their learning, student engagement
have learned makes me proud to know them and proud to be a part of
and achievement increase,” said Gina Chisum, Instructional Technology
the Union Elementary community.”
Facilitator for Union County Public Schools.
There were many people from all over the state that complimented
This year