Recordpub.com - Crestwood: Technology is topic for visit ... High school students welcome international scholars

By Ali Gregoire

Crestwood High School

Sixteen international scholars representing 13 different countries from around the world visited Crestwood High School in March to observe the integration of technology in various classrooms.

The scholars, who are visiting teachers from countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, India, Egypt and Venezuela, are taking a curriculum course at Kent State University. Each is assigned to a local school in Portage County in order to observe American teachers and students.

Teresa Moon, a Crestwood mathematics teacher, has been working with three scholars out of this group, along with KSU professor Jim Henderson.

This year, Moon and her colleagues obtained grants from Hewlett-Packard, First Energy and Dominion Gas that provided technology to enhance learning in science and math while providing a connection to students' community.

The international scholars felt compelled to investigate the current uses of technology in Crestwood's curriculum, so with Moon's cooperation, they visited several Crestwood classrooms.

The day began in Moon's geometry class aided by student teacher Ashley Dailey.

"The students used GPS devises and cameras during an outdoor field experience where they were to create a photographic story of several geometric concepts like, translations, reflections and the Pythagorean Theorem," said Moon. The scholars walked around with the students while they learned to use the new technologies to complete their projects.

Dave McMahon's Computer Aided Draft and Design class demonstrated the CADD programs that they have been using to create three-dimensional objects using loft, a tool used to create a solid figure, with a multi-planer setting.

The scholars then visited Andy Brown's Anatomy class where they used EKG and computer programs to study muscle movement and tone.

The day progressed as the scholars visited Ryan McElyea's room where his freshman Physical Science class gave presentations on the Smartboard about their recently completed egg car projects where they used cameras and projectors to study gravity and its effects.

After watching Dan Brubaker's science class use Lab Quest to display real time and temperature onto the Smartboard, Philippines' teacher Ana Espejo Mirana said, "The abstract ideas were made solid with the aid of the 'lab quest device.'"

The scholars also visited the art classes of Dave Scott and Jennifer Scott as they gave lessons on how to use computer programs to enhance photography.

At the end of the day, the scholars met back in Moon's classroom to view interactive Web sites that they can use in their own countries and schools, and they reflected on their day full of new technology and learning.

(photo)

Scholars from around the world recently visited Crestwood High School to view technology. Kneeling, from left, are Ebed Melec Sulbarab Pena (Venezuela), Yaser Abuhmaid (Jordan), Maband Mnisi (South Africa) and Assia Benamara (Algeria), and standing, Ana Mirana (Philippines), Bayu Widyatmoko (Indonesia), Adrian Pariat (India), El Ismaila Diouf (Semegal), Houssin Zayri (Africa), Mercelita Labial (Philippines), Alexandre Oliveira (Brazil), Teresa Moon(Crestwood High School)Badrun Nahar (Bangladesh), Siti Sulaiman (Indonesia), Joslia Santos (Brazil), Kazi Rashid (Bangladesh), Marwa Saleh (Eqypt)and Danielle Sherritt (Kent State graduate student).