Windmill Springs K-8 School Continues With Successful Implementation Of Hitachi StarBoards Into Special Education and Mainstream Curriculum

-- Windmill Springs School Has Continued Efforts To Develop Innovative Learning Environment With Use of Hitachi Interactive Whiteboards--

CHULA VISTA, Calif., November 19, 2008 – Continuing its effort to create a technology-rich educational environment, Windmill Springs Middle School in northern California’s Franklin-McKinley School District has increasingly relied on Hitachi StarBoards since they were installed in June 2007. Purchased through Troxell Communications, the school utilizes the FX-77 model StarBoard.

“We’ve quickly realized how much we have come to depend upon the enriched experience the StarBoard provides on a daily basis,” stated Windmill teacher Amy Kolb Tucker. “This year we are piloting a full inclusion of students with significant learning differences in special education classes.”

According to Tucker the StarBoards play an important role in the student’s critical learning exercises. “As a class, the students can brainstorm words, thoughts, ideas, facts or even images to use in writing or projects. This is especially effective for creating word banks while writing or completing content-area assignments. Additionally, the brainstorming pages can be updated and even manipulated as we move through the process.”

Special education students are receiving science and social studies instruction in a general education class. As a special-education teacher, Tucker facilitates their inclusion by adapting the lessons. “We began the program last year but it has now expanded,” said Tucker. “Because we utilize the StarBoard in the lessons where special education students are integrated with our inclusion classes, they have become days our students look forward to a great deal. The general education students look forward to utilizing the Starboard as well. Our classroom is definitely the coolest classroom on campus and the other students know it!”