One-touch learning in District 30

Several teachers in District 30 have a new tool at their disposal — an interactive white board — which they say makes learning more exciting.

As part of the district’s six-year technology plan, interactive white boards are being installed in classrooms throughout the four buildings. The first round was installed a few months ago and technology Director Ryan Meloni said there will be 38 in operation by the end of the school year.

District 30 has purchased the Eno Board, similar to the popular SMART Board. He noted that the Eno Board is magnetic and also doubles as a regular marker board. It is also a very sturdy product. “They’re virtually indestructible and they have a lifetime guarantee,” he said.

The board is hooked into a computer, which is projected onto the white screen. But what makes interactive white boards unique is that one doesn’t need to use the computer to use the software, they can just touch the board.

Teachers have found the Eno Board a welcome addition to the classroom environment. Jessica Santarpia, a kindergarten teacher at Forest Road School, said she uses the board for Fundations, a phonics program that helps children with their letter formation, and for other subjects.

One lesson the children enjoyed, she said, was when they learned about the components of a map. Using the Eno Board, the class designed its own community with streets, houses, trees and more.

“There are so many endless possibilities for it,” she said of the interactive white board. “It helps me develop more interactive and more creative lessons.”

Ilissa Epstein, a fourth-grade teacher at Shaw Avenue School, said she uses the board for just about every subject area. The students become engaged in the learning process, she said, because they want to come up to the front of the room and use the board. “It definitely helps keep their attention,” she said. “It really motivates them because they’re able to come up and do things on their own.”

Last week, Epstein used the Eno Board to have the students vote on their favorite Thanksgiving food. Each child got to come up and cast their vote for one of five choices. She then used the results for a math lesson, creating tallies, charts and graphs.