SCHOOL'S EMINTS PROGRAM BRINGS TUDENTS ONLINE

Ralph Beck, a teacher at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson since 1984, recently discussed Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies Project known as eMINTS.

The eMINTS program began in 1997 when MOREnet obtained funding from Southwestern Bell to initiate the Multimedia Interactive Networked Technologies Project. The MINTS project delivers a high-speed Internet connection to the classroom and places technology on students' and teachers' desks.

The technology encouraged a new way of educating students -- a way that engages them in their education by making resources available in a learning environment that fosters cooperation, collaboration, problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills. The preliminary results of this program were so successful that it prompted the Missouri Commissioner of Education to launch a statewide initiative to change the way Missouri thinks about educating its students. This new initiative is the enhancing eMINTS.

Schools are selected with location in mind, and teachers are a part of a cluster of teachers who have a cluster instructional specialist available for consultation, support and assistance.

Before the students and Beck returned from their Christmas break, their classroom was like any other. A transformation took place that has inspired inquiry-based learning.

Only two classrooms in the district, both fourth-grade classes, have eMINTS.

The change that took place was at first overwhelming, and an adjustment period was inevitable until everyone learned how to use the equipment, know the expectations and meet them.

The eMINTS classroom is like a classroom in the future.

For example, when smart boards are being used, the front focal point of the classroom, a 4-foot-by-4-foot space, formerly a chalkboard, is almost magically changed into the desktop of a computer.

The screen changes as it is controlled by touch. Of course, sound accompanies the presentation and the presentation is controlled by the student.

Students must learn to use the scanner, digital camera and paint by hand. They also have to e-mail their spelling tests to Beck.

Beck said students typing skills have improved.

Through sites on the Internet like wordcentral.com where students find new words their vocabulary has improved also.

Computer stations are shared by two students.

An online program students talk about is Buzzword, which asks students how they think a word came about. The program also pronounces words for students on command.

The program makes learning more like discovering, with the students using the computer to uncover the answers and find that what lies beneath.

Students have also learned about famous people: Emmett Kelly, the famous hobo clown; Betty Grable, Walt Disney, David Rice Atchinson, who was president for just one day; Josephine Baker, Ullyses S. Grant, Vincent Price, Tina Turner and Mark Twain.

Students who aren't in an eMINTS classroom call it "unfair" that they don't have a class like eMINTS, said Melissa Dominguez.

Lucas Tuschhoff said the other students call him "lucky" to be able to get on Web sites to work on projects.