Berkley Normal Middle School

PROMETHEAN ACTIVBOARDS FACILITATE INQUIRY - BASED LEARNING AT BERKLEY NORMAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Berkley Normal Middle School is a decile nine, co-educational teaching facility situated in the Hamilton suburb of Hillcrest in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Currently serving approximately 620 students, aged 10 to 14, Berkley has adopted an inquiry-based teaching approach, with a joint emphasis on academic and practical learning.

Reflecting its ongoing mission to provide a challenging and active learning environment that is responsive to the needs of the 21st century, Berkley found Promethean ActivBoards fulfulled all their criteria.

THE CHALLENGE
As well as setting a framework for core subjects, the revised New Zealand curriculum provides teachers with greater freedom to determine their own teaching styles based on the individual needs of students.

Berkley has successfully achieved this by adopting an inquiry approach that is supportive of both theoretical and practical learning. To facilitate this method, Berkley is committed to equipping all of its classrooms with the most up-to-date and advanced teaching tools.

Recognising the potential for interactive technology to enhance inquiry-based learning, Berkley added to funds received from the Government in order to introduce Promethean ActivBoards school-wide. These were rolled out as a phased implementation over a three-year period.

THE SOLUTION
Having invested in 10 ActivBoards and 10 portable ActivBoard+2 systems with ActivInspire software, Berkley has almost completed its whole school implementation.

The ActivBoard+2 offers all the characteristics of the ActivBoard with the added benefit of a wall-mounted, height-adjustable frame and a super short-throw projector to minimise glare and on-screen shadowing. Berkley opted for a moveable version of the board, allowing the technology to be shared easily between classrooms until full school implementation has been achieved.

Crucial to the interactivity of the ActivBoard is the accompanying ActivInspire software. Designed to suit the needs of students aged 11 and above, ActivInspire offers a wide range of features to bring the learning experience to life.

Berkley benefited from the latest version of the software and keeps up-to-date with free software updates via the internet. This incorporates an easy to use flipchart builder with approximately 100 'click to edit' page templates that can be customised with a variety of text, image and sound files to create truly inspiring lessons to engage every student.

THE BENEFIT
John Crone, Principal of Berkley Normal Middle School, believes that the Promethean ActivBoard and accompanying ActivInspire software have successfully enhanced the school's inquiry approach to teaching and learning. "Inquiry-based learning values the needs of all students, whether they are more academically minded, or driven by acquiring knowledge and skills in a hands-on, experiential way. We have found that Promethean technology successfully lends itself to this pedagogical approach.

"The software offers an extensive resource library to suit a range of levels, while the ability to manipulate images as well as utilise a variety of on-screen tools helps teachers to demonstrate concepts in more practical way. When students take control of the board learning becomes kinaesthetic, empowering them to explore subject matter rather than having it dictated to them.

"Berkley's first purchase included five fixed ActivBoards, four of which were installed in student homerooms with the fifth going in the library. John explains how the benefits of the technology to teaching and learning were quickly realised, leading to the allocation of further funds to achieve full school implementation: "One of our teachers had cause to present information to the school Board of Trustees (BOT) and used the ActivBoard to do so. The BOT immediately saw the potential the boards offered in raising student achievement through increased motivation and engagement, and fast-tracked the purchasing timeframe.

"We decided to phase the ActivBoards into our school in sets of five, spread evenly over a three year period. Our current number has therefore quickly risen to 20, leaving just one final order to be placed to equip the remaining classrooms."

Describing the key features of the portable ActivBoard+2, John comments: "The portable boards give teachers greater flexibility, allowing them to set up their classrooms based on the needs of the students, rather than the location of the board. As our classrooms are not curtained, mobile boards also minimise sun strike as they can be repositioned for optimum viewing."

"Moreover, the ability to easily move the location of the board facilitated our 'staggered introduction' approach, allowing the technology to be shared until all classrooms could be equipped with their own board.

"As well as benefiting from the unique features of the technology, all users of Promethean teaching tools can take advantage of a free online global teaching community at Promethean Planet. "For teachers at Berkley, the ability to share ideas, resources and problem-solving tips on Promethean Planet has proved invaluable. We have also noted Promethean's responsiveness to feedback posted on the site, bringing about user-driven improvements, such as the introduction of a spell check tool

"Commenting on the school's future plans for interactive technology, John concludes: "21st century learners need 21st century tools. At Berkley, we aim to provide our students with the most up-to-date technology and have therefore planned to introduce Promethean's ActiVote and ActivExpression learner response systems."