Techno classrooms

Glance quickly into many of the just-opened classrooms across the country, and they may look like those in operation from a decade or so ago. Children sit patiently at their desks waiting for the next lesson, all lined up in neat, tidy rows.

Look closer. The students might be seated alongside wireless computers. Or they could be preparing to give PowerPoint presentations as part of an afternoon book report.

Technology is changing the face of the modern classroom, aiding students and teachers as they work to abide by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which established educational standards all students are expected to meet.

John Q. Porter, chief information officer and assistant superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools, says technology is helping teachers identify which students need help in which areas.

“Once we see the data, we look at each individual kid and look at individual programs for the kids,” Mr. Porter says.

The Montgomery County School District recently plugged into Microsoft’s Class Server 3.0 software, which helps teachers create and grade standards-aligned assessments and lessons over the Web. The software lets teachers track how students are performing over a period of time. And a Web-based curriculum allows children to catch up on lessons missed or reinforce information that didn’t stick the first time.

“Kids can work independently … and they can assess themselves,” Mr. Porter says. “That didn’t exist 10 years ago.”

Students complete assignments using a standard Web browser, and their lessons and test results become a digital portfolio that can be accessed from school or home.

John Fowler, global manager of K-12 Infrastructure with San Francisco-based Sun Microsystems, says while some students work well independently, others need remedial effort. Computer programs allow students to repeat crucial lessons.

“They run the same programs to learn the math and language skills independently of the teacher,” Mr. Fowler says. “The teachers are still actively involved, but they can learn the skills necessary to move ahead without the constant supervision.”

Technology also is making school more accessible to the handicapped.

According to “The Digital Classroom,” edited by David T. Gordon, voice-recognition software helps students who cannot manipulate a pen or keyboard complete their lessons. Synthesized speech software allows others to communicate via their keyboard.

Children, particularly the youngest students, are well-suited to learn through technology, says Karen Marshall, president and founder of ECW Corp. of Great Falls.

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