Michigan Legislators to View Student Technology Projects at Michigan Student Technology Showcase

Oct. 28, 2010 - PRLog -- LANSING, MI – Some 100 students from 35 schools throughout Michigan will set up demonstrations to show legislators how they are using technology to enhance learning at the 10th annual Michigan Student Technology Showcase on Wednesday, November 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the rotunda at the State Capitol Building, in Lansing.  Following an opening ceremony at 9:15 a.m., there will be two separate demonstration sessions, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Presented by the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL), the 2010 Showcase will feature demonstrations such as:

•   A cross-cultural program conducted by fifth graders with students their age at a school in Istanbul, Turkey, to learn about cultures around the globe;
•   Students who use the Challenge Base Approach to improve thinking and reasoning skills, will present a written report that integrates technology to display their findings;
•   Second and third grade students will show how they are producing digital storybooks;
•   Students in an alternative energy class will demonstrate how a wind turbine produces an electrical current and actually creates enough voltage to play a musical tune.  

The projects, which cover a wide variety of learning areas including science, mathematics, social studies and language arts, will feature student TV news shows, movie-making, computer-controlled industrial-like automations, handheld computing and Internet based educational projects and advanced graphics designs, and incorporate a multitude of technology tools such as VoiceThread, Animoto and Visual Communicator.

Ric Wiltse, MACUL executive director, says the projects clearly show how technology is impacting student learning.  “In the 10 years we have presented the Showcase, we’ve seen a marked increase in the use of classroom technology,” he states.  “Students learn more quickly and with greater retention when they have access to technology.  The value of the Showcase includes the opportunity for student teams to visit the State Capitol and meet the legislators from their districts.  Students and teachers also learn and receive inspiration from each other.”

MACUL is an organization dedicated to bringing educators from all levels together to share their knowledge and concerns regarding educational uses of computers and technology.  For further information about the event, visit the MACUL Web site at www.macul.org or call MACUL at 517-882-1403.