Grants For Education

Making Magic Happen Through ZEF Grants

Monica Plantan (ZMS Teacher)

By any standard, we are a fortunate community of teachers in Zionsville.  Students come to us ready to learn; parents and administrators support our efforts in the classroom; facilities are impeccable; colleagues become friends; and the community embraces its schools.  The Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF)  takes all of this a step further, affording us the unique ability to make magic happen for our students. ZEF funds our creative endeavors, which enrich student learning on a daily basis.

Through a grant from ZEF, in collaboration with ZMS Principal Sean Conner and the ZCS technology department, a SMART Board interactive learning system was installed in my classroom.  A gallery within SMART Board's free software allows teacher and students to import subject-specific tools.  Examples include maps, graph paper, shapes, formulae, charts, diagrams, pictures, etc. The digital markers enable us to write annotations directly on the projected image.  These may be saved, printed out as notes, shared on the network, or emailed home, depending upon need.  The SMART Board acts directly as a computer screen.  One's finger becomes the mouse, manipulating the contents of the screen, making the Internet a safe educational resource. Imagine how exciting it is for students to experience the Sieve of Eratosthenes, as composite numbers literally sift out of a grid, leaving the primes all with the touch of a few numbers on that projected grid.

Science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke, said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."  There is a magical learning power to the SMART Board, as evidenced by these student comments:

• "It's so much easier to grasp new concepts when you have beautiful, sleek visuals right before you."
• "It's part of the reason why I have an A in math."
• "I like giving a presentation because I can use the digital mouse and the magic happens."
• "It lets us interact with all the lessons."
• "...even learning poetry and grammar can be fun and interesting."
• "...words magically appear.  It is cool!!"

If you have ever wondered what your ZEF contribution might do, I encourage you to visit their website (www.zionsvilleeducationfoundation.org) and browse the list of grants that have been awarded. In 2006 alone, fitness equipment, guest musicians, reading enrichment, portable sound fields, integrated computer software, and many other innovative programs have been funded through your generous donations to ZEF.  There is magic happening in our schools.  It's no illusion!