How Has Your Nominee Been a Trailblazer Implementing Technology into Instruction?
Belinda is passionate about bringing technology to the classroom. One of the many ways that she does this is the use of a probeware program which downloads to the computers measurements of heat, cold, light, sound, movement, and life. This is done both inside the classroom and out in the nature area which includes a pond, which she developed for the school. Belinda wrote many grants to enable her to purchase enough probeware for each student to use. Belinda uses the computer lab and mobile laptop computer lab to help students develop skills in studying, analyzing and presenting the data gathered with the probeware. After completion of information gathering, students have developed their own webpages and reports using computers, calculators, and the probeware. Belinda takes students every year to the state Science Fair in Virginia. She is very strict about all compliance with the rules of the fair, and requires much data to be presented. Graphs, Charts, etc. have to be developed using both the probeware and the computer. Belinda uses live feed broadcasts of animals and events to help students watch and gather data of current populations and events. Belinda uses technology everyday in her classroom to help present and teach information. Using computer generated presentations and webquests, Belinda enables students to learn the most current information about subjects studied. In my many years of teaching, there has been none more committed to helping students intergrate the use of technology in their education than Belinda Castol.
