The school received $50,000 as part of its selection to the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Program. The money will be used to give teachers two years of professional development in how to use mobile technology in the classroom in teaching science, technology, engineering and math.
There were only three schools chosen in the south, and Piedmont is the only rural system to receive the money, said Julie Smith, a vice president for external affairs with Verizon. The school had to go through an extensive, competitive application process, she said. One of the reasons Piedmont was selected was because students in the school district already have access to laptops, MacBooks, iPads and iPods.
"We value our rural communities," Smith said. "What we hope is that Piedmont will show other systems how to use this technology, because the capabilities are there, network-wise, to do these things."
Smart phone technology now though allows students to take pictures of leafs and instantly identify them using recognition software, said Rachel Smith, the school district's tech coach and curriculum coordinator. And while learning about the tree species, students can also network with other students on their assignments before they are turned in.
One tool also open to teachers is the International Society for Technology in Education, or ISTE. It allows teachers to trade information, teaching strategies and know-how. Part of the professional development will involve learning to use ISTE, Smith said.
One strategy Piedmont employs in the classroom is individualized education, which calls for the teacher to use technology in giving students as close to one-on-one instruction as possible. If students are excelling in math, for example, a teacher can use technology to accelerate their learning in preparation for high school. If a student needs a little more instruction, then their lessons can be geared toward shoring up problem areas.
Stephanie Steward, a seventh and eighth grade math teacher, said this allows students to prepare earlier for their career paths, and gives them flexibility to explore.
"There are so many tools to use for students, we don't want to saturate them with just one piece of technology," she said.
Matt Akin, the district superintendent, said by "meeting students where they are," the educational experience can be both personal and engaging.
"Some problems for students won't be solved in a day or a school year, but this allows us to use every avenue available," he said.