News release

Students Motivated to Read, Write with Technology

Education (July 1999 - March 2013)

Technology in Nova Scotia's classrooms is motivating students to improve their reading and writing skills.

Students in Laureen Murphy's Grade 5 class at St. Andrew Junior School in Antigonish are using computers in their classroom to give presentations on novels they've read as part of the Active Young Readers program.

"It's a modern twist on the classic book report," said Mrs. Murphy. "The students are all reading at their own levels and then putting their writing skills to work in the presentations. They're really motivated by the technology."

After reading their books, the students work in groups using the Internet to research authors and book topics, and to download photos. They use presentation software to compile and present the book reports to their classmates.

"Technology in our schools is a powerful tool to support the curriculum," said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac, who visited the students today, May 5, to mark Information Technology Week.

"Along with our partners, we've put 6,200 computers in Nova Scotia schools," said the minister. "Teachers are finding lots of innovative ways to integrate the technology into their daily lessons."

Mrs. Murphy's Grade 5 students also practice their writing skills by producing a monthly class newsletter. It includes columns such as Book Talk and Author of the Month, as well as feature stories and interviews with staff.

"We decide together at the beginning of each month who will work on which items of the newsletter and the students take it from there," said Mrs. Murphy. "They research and write the stories, take photos on our digital camera and do the layout on the computer."

Provincial and federal governments put 6,200 new computers and Internet access in Nova Scotia's junior and senior high schools since the beginning of the Information Economy Initiative in 1998. The Learning for Life strategy includes commitments for an additional 3,600 computers for Grades 4 to 6 by 2004.

Seven years ago, Nova Scotia had one computers for every 24 students. Today, the ratio is 1-7. The goal is to have one computer for every five students by 2005-06.