Science Tools Accelerate Learning

North Cross School students, armed with iPads and PASCO Probeware, busily conducted motion experiments in the science lab today, taking position measurements using reflected sound waves.

Science teacher Kevin Wells smiled as he watched the students in action. “This is great. The goal of this lab is to learn how to interpret and analyze graphs. Though they know how to do it, the students are not spending their time compiling data and constructing graphs by hand. The technology does that for them. The graphs are created by the software in real time, and this allows the students to intuitively understand how these graphs are made. Our learning pace is accelerated, and we’re challenging our scientists to become more critical thinkers.”

The new PASCO Probeware are just one of the investments in technology made recently by North Cross School. Every student in the Upper School division has an iPad. These powerful personal learning devices house interactive textbooks and a variety of creative multi-discipline tools. Students have software for their emails, schedules, face-to-face communications, and contacts with fellow students and teachers. Not only have students used these for their studies, research, and writing papers, but they also have been creating videos.

Director of the Upper School, Mark Thompson, remarked, “I initially thought these iPads and their capability were something we would gradually use more and more over time. Since we opened the boxes and began to use them, student curiosity and creativity has exploded. I find that I have to run pretty fast to try and stay ahead of what they have been able to do, and it definitely has changed the way we’re educating our students. What a fantastic investment in their, and our, future.”

About North Cross School

North Cross School is a college-preparatory day school grounded in a strong liberal arts and science curriculum combined with exceptional co-curricular programs. The academic program, from junior kindergarten through twelfth grade, prepares students to become responsible, successful citizens by encouraging them to explore their interests and develop their talents. The School is located at 4254 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, VA, 24018. For more information, visit www.northcross.org.

Submitted by Whitney Campbell