By Jamie Kim 

Carolyn Staudt, a representative from the Concord Consortium, spoke to math and science teachers Tuesday about integrating more technology into the curriculum. The Concord Consortium is a non-profit education research and development organization that develops and promotes the use of educational technology.

Staudt’s visit was coordinated by the Educational Technology Committee.

“The idea is to try to open up the information to faculty as much as we can,” said Head of Upper School Harry Salamandra.

Staudt visited seven math and science classes throughout the day, and during her presentation expressed her excitement at the high level of technology she saw already being utilized. The kind of technology the Concord Consortium has created would “provide the next level up,” and would “move technology from the front of the room into the hands of students,” she said.

Past projects have created a wide range of educational resources, such as probes and models. With such tools, teachers can interact with students to a much greater effect. For instance, a teacher can watch a student’s thinking process in action, as everything the student does — his incorrect initial impulse to a question, as an example — is recorded and saved. In addition, students can collaborate with one another by solving problems together and sharing their results.

An open source library on the web, which allows teachers to create their own virtual classrooms and not only choose, but customize activities for students, makes such resources freely accessible to teachers.

Math teacher Mike Mori described the presentation as “eye-opening.”

Another speaker is scheduled to visit in February to follow up on the topic of educational technology.