By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Amie Williams has seen firsthand how technology can transform a classroom.
The 21st century model classroom teacher at Carson High Schools says the use of iPods, interactive white boards, laptops and more have revolutionized her teaching strategies.
“Students are more engaged now,” Williams said. “There are so many different ways to teach concepts and students are learning skills to be able to use for the future.”
Williams will join educators from all 35 Rowan-Salisbury schools to showcase the district’s technology initiatives Saturday at North Rowan High School.
The event, dubbed “Technology Matters: What’s Right with Public Education,” is free and open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“We would like for the public to know how well our teachers are infusing the technology into maximizing learning for our students,” Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom said in a press release. “Students from every school will be sharing their technology skills, projects and creativity.”
Williams said about seven students from Carson High will be on hand during the event to demonstrate how a green screen works. She said students in her history classes use the screen to act out scenes from history.
“Then we edit the video and put them in that time period,” she said. “The students really enjoy it.”
Williams said visitors who stop by will be able to have their picture taken in front of the green screen, before students digitally change the background to either Carson or its partner school in China.
“I’m stepping back and I’m letting the kids do everything,” she said. “I don’t want people to see what I can do, I want them to see what the students can do.”
Horizons Unlimited Director Lisa Wear said students will be there to demonstrate a variety of technology used at her facility.
“We’ll have it there for people to interact with and try,” she said. “We’re demonstrating the outcomes of these programs as opposed to talking about it.
“It makes what we’re doing clear to the community and shows how these programs are affecting student lives.”
Phil Hardin, the district’s executive director of technology, said several departments will also be showing off their technology savvy.
The academically and intellectually gifted (AIG) department will showcase its use of robotics. HOPSports, a multimedia program that improves cardiovascular health and provides strength training, will be set up in the gym by the physical education team.
Hardin said the district’s Internet equipped wireless activity bus will be parked out front for people to tour.
The bus will roll into action for short trips at 10 and 11 a.m.
“We invite everyone to come out and meeting teachers, students and administrators and actually see the wonderful things that are happening here in the Rowan-Salisbury School System classrooms,” Hardin said. “People will see the impact that technology is actually having on student learning.”
Rita Foil, the district’s public information officer, said Sen. Andrew Brock, Rep. Fred Steen, and Rep. Harry Warren, who all represent Rowan County in Raleigh, are planning to attend.
The House-approved state budget would eliminate 100 percent of school technology funding.
“I feel like they are going to be inspired by what we are doing so I’m hoping that they are going to realize that we need a budget for technology too,” Williams said. “This is the future so we’ve got to transform our schools, we’ve got to stop making cuts if we want our kids to be ready.”
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.