BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. -- A group of fifth graders is huddled around a table that looks like a video game table. From the kids' perspective, it probably feels like a video game, but their teacher, Jody Durand, knows they are learning.
"When they're doing this, it's not just on a piece of paper," explained Durand, who is one of the first teachers at Northport Elementary in Brooklyn Center to use a Smart Table in her classroom.
The Smart Table seats up to eight students at a time who use the table for math, reading and social studies. Using a jump drive, teachers can upload dozens of lessons that have students manipulating digital images on the table to go through exercises, solve problems and explore videos together.
"Our students are digital learners," said principal Patrick Smith, who brought the tables to Northport. "We're always looking for ways to engage them in learning."
"They're touching, they're seeing, they're hearing," said Kindergarten teacher Susan Sletten. Her students are using the Smart Table to learn about letters and sounds as they learn to read.
Sletten doesn't expect the Smart Table to replace traditional teaching methods, but it is a great supplement. "They're a little more attentive, it pulls them in a little more."
Northport is the first school in the Robbinsdale district to use the tables. Smith says he hopes to purchase more if the budget allows, and if they can demonstrate progress using the tables.
It's all part of Northport's transition to a school focused on STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math. Already this year, Northport has seen progress in the number of students meeting their requirements in math and reading.
Smith hopes Smart Tables will be another tool to push students to learn even more. "It's engaging, and once you engage learners in the instruction in the lessons, that's when they learn," said Smith.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All rights reserved.)