Armstrong School District is opening its doors to the community May 7 for a look at some of the latest educational technology at work in the classroom.

The public event, called “Flip the Switch!” will give parents, local residents, business owners and community leaders a look at some of the $400,000 worth of laptop computers, interactive whiteboards and other 21st Century technology that came through the state’s Classrooms for the Future Educational Grant program.

The event will be on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at Kittanning Senior High School, 1200 Orr Avenue, Kittanning. The event starts at 1 p.m. to give the public a chance to see students and teachers demonstrating the interactive power of the learning technology.

According to school district educators, this infusion of technology is taking education to new levels.

“You will be amazed to see the effects of technology in the classroom,” said Dr. Frank Garritano, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and District Programs. “You will be seeing students learning in a 21st Century environment. Students are engaged and collaborating in small groups, conducting Web research on their laptops, discussing real-life scientific problems and producing group presentations that are really awe-inspiring.”

Teachers can now guide instruction with an interactive whiteboard and an electronic pen that allows them to project content and then ‘mark up’ and modify that content on a large screen—essentially replacing the old chalk and chalkboard as well as the projector and screen.

The event’s tentative schedule is:

1:00 to 1:44: Meet in Auditorium for pleasantries, welcome, and introduction Video will be shown, approximately 15 minutes

1:45 to 2:25: Visit classrooms using laptops, interactive whiteboards and student response clickers

2:26 to 2:45: Library for refreshments

2:46 to 3:00: Public can use equipment, teachers demo board, discussions with public

3:00: Conclusion

No RSVP is needed for the public, and the event is free.

The Classrooms for the Future educational equipment was distributed this spring to 26 secondary science teachers across the school district. This new equipment is benefiting 2,100 students in grades 7-12. The grant is expected to bring additional monies to the district next year, which will benefit secondary English and social studies classes.

Along with Dr. Garritano, the overall initiative is made possible in Armstrong School District through the Technology Department led by Brad Schrecengost, Director of Technology and Information Services. There are also two coaches who help teachers integrate the technology into their classrooms: Donna Golab and Dr. Deb Snyder, both veteran educators in the Armstrong School District.