On May 15th, local politicians and community leaders visited classrooms to view changes and improvements in technology uses at Upper Perk. These politicians will help support the schools in receiving grants for more technology.
This event, called “Flip the Switch”, is a part of Classrooms for the Future, or CFF. CFF is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program’s purpose is to help bring technology to the schools across the state.
Mrs. Wendy Perlstein, the technology coach at the high school, organized the event. She was very pleased withe the day’s events.
“I have to say that the most amazing part of (the day) was the way our students interacted with our visitors. They were polite, helpful, and outgoing,” Mrs. Perlstein said
“They were amazing! The student demonstrators stole the show. I circulated the tables and got to listen to these incredible young adults explain the content and the tech tool with confidence and expertise.”
Last year, the money given to the Upper Perkiomen High School got us 189 student laptops, 12 teacher laptops, 12 Promethean boards with projectors and speakers, (smart boards are not included with CFF and were purchased separately) two video cameras, and one digital still camera.
The grant that UPHS is hoping to receive for next year is probably going to include six more teachers in the CFF program at best, according to Wendy Perlstein, the UPHS technology coach.
Teachers and students alike seem to agree that the CFF program has definite benefits.
“The CFF program has been a great advantage to the English classroom. Online message boards and interactive blogs have added a whole new level of fun to the concepts of discussion and literary analysis,” said Michael Calvello, English teacher.
Veronica Neff of the science department said, “The new technology has brought the chemistry I teach to life.  Abstract concepts are able to be visualized and explored.”
The program allows everyone to be engaged, and Tyler Matlak, a junior, said, “CFF has allowed quieter students to get involved and participate in class discussions using Cover It Live (a blogging site).”
Teachers involved in the CFF program received their equipment in January of this year and began working it into the curriculum as the second marking period began.
As one of the conditions for accepting the CFF equipment, teachers had to commit to taking an on-line course entitled “Embedded Learning”, sponsored by the Pa. Department of Education.
They also committed to meeting with the technology coach after school or during prep periods to learn about the possibilities offered by the CFF program.