With technology at the forefront of today’s society, digital learning plays a major role in educating the 21st century student. To continue its expansion, the Fayette County Public School System’s Digital Learning Services invited guests to experience a professional development event where they had the opportunity to observe Whitewater High students and teachers using one of Fayette’s newest interactive technologies- Nearpod.
 
Nearpod is an interactive presentation and assessment tool teachers can use to engage students on any technology devices.
 
The school system’s digital learning & media coordinator Kate Crawford wanted to share with others how Nearpod is successfully assisting in educating hundreds of students in Fayette County. 
 
Crawford says, “We were so excited that Whitewater High offered to share their Nearpod experience and show others the benefits of bringing interactive technology into the classroom.”
 
Guests walked through the high school and watched as students learned various subjects through technology, innovative instructional practices, and research-based instructional models. 
 
Guests included members of Troup County’s school system, Fayette’s chief technology officer Jim Farmer, and other school system teachers and administrators. 
 
In one science classroom, guests watched as students used Nearpod to magnify microscopic particles. Working in groups, students were able to bring images from the traditional microscope onto their Google Chromebook for a more in-depth look. Guests were in awe at the level of interaction every student had with the lesson and technology. 
 
For many guests, Whitewater High’s weight-training classroom was one of the highlights of the tour. Weight training coach, Evan Bryant, showed guests how students use the interactive technology to track and maintain their weight lifting. Visitors watched as Bryant used his 65-inch wide interactive panel display to allow students to keep time at their variety of exercise stations. 
 
Following the tour, guests had the opportunity to ask questions and brainstorm with fellow educators from across Georgia.