Giving Students the World - One Classroom at a Time

When Kindergarten teacher Elizabeth Barrick downloaded a flipchart on circles and colors from Promethean Planet, she had no idea she was about to discover just how enthusiastic her students could be about learning.

“I introduced the Activotes to my kindergarteners and allowed them to use them independently as I read the questions to them on the flipchart,” says Barrick. “The cheers from the students could be heard down the hall (maybe even across the street!) as they discovered how successful they had been in answering the questions. When I looked at my class, I could see the excitement in their eyes! Could they really be learning? Could learning be this fun?”

Barrick is one of a few teachers involved in the grassroots effort to bring the Promethean solution to every classroom at J.Y. Joyner Center for Spanish Language/International Baccalaureate Elementary School, a K-5 magnet school in Raleigh, NC.

Chris Knott, school principal, began the process in the Spring of 2007, when he invited nine classroom teachers to attend a demonstration of the Promethean solution.

"They were completely mesmerized,” says Principal Knott. “I couldn't believe the looks on their faces when they saw the technology and support. They had to have one!” 

So, through the help of his PTA, Knott purchased an Activboard for every teacher who attended that day, and a “revolution” began. 

“Word spread pretty quickly about the boards and about student engagement,” says Knott.

 This summer, Joyner Elementary's Promethean teachers demonstrated the technology to the entire faculty.  Eman Ziada Brandt, a 3rd grade teach er, was one of the presenters.

“I actually felt nervous about giving the presentation, since I knew that there was still a lot for me to learn with using my board, and was afraid that if someone wanted me to do something in particular that I would not know how to do it,” says Ziada Brandt. “However, when I thought about it, I realized that for only using the board for a little over a month before summer vacation, I knew a lot. 

“The purpose of the demonstration was to get the teachers excited and want one in their classroom, too. So I got together with a fellow teacher and we brainstormed all the things we have done. (We wanted to do some of our own ideas versus getting things already made to show them how easy it is to use.) All the teachers loved the presentation and were excited. I believe that about 12 teachers requested one right on the spot!”

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