From chalkboards to SMARTboards

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - School's almost in session, but on Friday teachers were the one's doing the learning, trying to figure out how to use these computer interactive whiteboards with integrated data projectors.

The Martin Luther King Junior Charter School has 12 of these SMARTboards, now teachers can write with their fingers, move diagrams and much more.

Teachers say this will surely enhance the classroom experience.

"The classroom is not just these four walls, we have the whole world at our fingers tips and with this SMARTboard technology, to make interactive activities, just to enlighten people,” said Silvia Scott, a computer teacher.

Chicopee-based Valley Communications Systems donated these SMARTboards to the charter school.

They expect students to adapt to these new boards easily.

"You put a child in front of a typical chalkboard and they're bored. You put them in front of this and you're hitting them on all different modalities of learning,” said Dean Krosier, a trainer for Valley Communications Systems.

Now teachers and faculty members cannot wait to get this SMARTboard school year started.

"Being able to conduct whole lessons, being able to do little activities,” said Lucius Millinder, a 5th grade teacher.

"SMARTboard is just one more way to enhance learning and reach children you might not be able to reach in another way, get children excited about learning,” said Alan Katz, the Executive Director of the MLK Junior Charter School.

These 12 SMARTboards were valued at 48-thousand dollars.

Valley Communications Systems has installed more than 24-thousand of these SMARTboards throughout the Northeast.