|
|
|
Learning just became a little more fun for the sixth graders at Central Middle School.
The class is the first in the district to use “smart clickers,” hand-held devices that allow students to immediately respond to questions in a game-show style setting. Teachers, in turn, can immediately gauge how well the students are understanding the material.
“It provides the student and teacher with instant feedback using many types of educational settings,” explained Superintendent Steve Swiontek at the Monday night school board meeting. “The device is also a great deal of fun and makes the classroom and learning even more interesting.”
The district's technology director, Mike DeFoe, was on hand to give the board a demonstration.
“They're called Student Response Systems,” he began, “but I call them 'clickers.'”
DeFoe said the devices are made from the same company that produces the SmartBoards, which are widely used in the Devils Lake classrooms.
To show their versatility, DeFoe engaged the board members in a quick game of “Are you smarter than a sixth grader,” and presented them with true/false questions, multiple choice and open questions, which require the user to manually type in the answer.
“It's a quick way to check for understanding,” he said.
The clickers cost $1,500 for a set of 24 and six sets were required to accommodate all of the sixth graders in the district. They were purchased with grant funds.
DeFoe said he is hoping to receive more grant dollars for the project and hopefully expand the clickers to the fifth and seventh grade students.
Other business
• Deb Follman was recognized for recently being named the 2010 National Distinguished Principal for the State of North Dakota. Cake was served and numerous colleagues and family members were in attendance to offer support.
Swiontek described Follman as a “master educator,” and “one of the most effective principals I've had the pleasure to work with.”
Follman thanked her family, co-workers and the board. “This is very humbling. Thank you.”
• The board approved a 6.1 percent salary increase for the business manager, Scott Privratsky, as well as a 5.5 percent salary increase for Swiontek. A salary of adjustment of $3,800 will also be awarded to Swiontek for earning a doctorate degree. The board also approved the extension of Swiontek's contract to include the 2011-2012 school year.
• Three resignations were approved: Joe Wade, grade 5-12 music teacher; Heather Gessele, Special Ed Teacher at Sweetwater; and Rosemary Tompkins, fourth grade teacher at Minnie H. The board also approved three staff appointments: Corene Knutson, who will teach grade 3 at Minnie H; Adam Tunseth, fourth grade at Sweetwater; and Lindsay Keith, grade one at Prairie View.
• Board members discussed the ventilation system at the welding shop at the Lake Area Career and Technology Center. The current system was installed in 1975 and cannot keep up with the modern welding equipment.
“They do a lot more with plasma cutters and that produces a lot of smoke,” Swiontek said. “It's just a cloud in there, that our students are breathing.”
The board agreed to advertise for bids for the job, which could cost around $90,000.
• Tuition waivers were approved for three local families, allowing their children to attend Devils Lake Public Schools next year: Brad and Jamie Schneider, Lakota; Corey and Bonnie Erickson, Minnewaukan; and Wayne and Donna Rance, Starkweather.
• The board approved the Success For All curriculum and Read 180 curriculum for Central Middle School. The potential cost for the programs will total more than $185,000, which will be covered by a grant. If the grant is not approved, Swiontek noted, the discussion will be brought back to the board.
• School board members approved hiring a consultant to create a classified salary schedule. The district has never had a salary schedule for classified staff and, Swiontek noted, it would be best for a third party to make a recommendation. The cost of the study can not exceed $6,000.
Learning just became a little more fun for the sixth graders at Central Middle School.
The class is the first in the district to use “smart clickers,” hand-held devices that allow students to immediately respond to questions in a game-show style setting. Teachers, in turn, can immediately gauge how well the students are understanding the material.
“It provides the student and teacher with instant feedback using many types of educational settings,” explained Superintendent Steve Swiontek at the Monday night school board meeting. “The device is also a great deal of fun and makes the classroom and learning even more interesting.”
The district's technology director, Mike DeFoe, was on hand to give the board a demonstration.
“They're called Student Response Systems,” he began, “but I call them 'clickers.'”
DeFoe said the devices are made from the same company that produces the SmartBoards, which are widely used in the Devils Lake classrooms.
To show their versatility, DeFoe engaged the board members in a quick game of “Are you smarter than a sixth grader,” and presented them with true/false questions, multiple choice and open questions, which require the user to manually type in the answer.
“It's a quick way to check for understanding,” he said.
The clickers cost $1,500 for a set of 24 and six sets were required to accommodate all of the sixth graders in the district. They were purchased with grant funds.
DeFoe said he is hoping to receive more grant dollars for the project and hopefully expand the clickers to the fifth and seventh grade students.
Other business
• Deb Follman was recognized for recently being named the 2010 National Distinguished Principal for the State of North Dakota. Cake was served and numerous colleagues and family members were in attendance to offer support.
Swiontek described Follman as a “master educator,” and “one of the most effective principals I've had the pleasure to work with.”
Follman thanked her family, co-workers and the board. “This is very humbling. Thank you.”
• The board approved a 6.1 percent salary increase for the business manager, Scott Privratsky, as well as a 5.5 percent salary increase for Swiontek. A salary of adjustment of $3,800 will also be awarded to Swiontek for earning a doctorate degree. The board also approved the extension of Swiontek's contract to include the 2011-2012 school year.
• Three resignations were approved: Joe Wade, grade 5-12 music teacher; Heather Gessele, Special Ed Teacher at Sweetwater; and Rosemary Tompkins, fourth grade teacher at Minnie H. The board also approved three staff appointments: Corene Knutson, who will teach grade 3 at Minnie H; Adam Tunseth, fourth grade at Sweetwater; and Lindsay Keith, grade one at Prairie View.
• Board members discussed the ventilation system at the welding shop at the Lake Area Career and Technology Center. The current system was installed in 1975 and cannot keep up with the modern welding equipment.
“They do a lot more with plasma cutters and that produces a lot of smoke,” Swiontek said. “It's just a cloud in there, that our students are breathing.”
The board agreed to advertise for bids for the job, which could cost around $90,000.
• Tuition waivers were approved for three local families, allowing their children to attend Devils Lake Public Schools next year: Brad and Jamie Schneider, Lakota; Corey and Bonnie Erickson, Minnewaukan; and Wayne and Donna Rance, Starkweather.
• The board approved the Success For All curriculum and Read 180 curriculum for Central Middle School. The potential cost for the programs will total more than $185,000, which will be covered by a grant. If the grant is not approved, Swiontek noted, the discussion will be brought back to the board.
• School board members approved hiring a consultant to create a classified salary schedule. The district has never had a salary schedule for classified staff and, Swiontek noted, it would be best for a third party to make a recommendation. The cost of the study can not exceed $6,000.
