WATERLOO - Which country has a majority Muslim population? The Central Middle School seventh-graders have just a few moments to choose an answer using a hand-held Activote device.

Teacher Sarah Stephan leads a brief discussion on the four possibilities after each student in the social studies class presses a button on the device, recording their choices in her computer. Then she reveals the answer - Indonesia - on the Activboard, an interactive white board at the front of the classroom. She also touches her pen to the board, bringing up a map, and briefly shows students the country's location.

"They like the Activotes because it causes communication, it causes debate," Stephan said after the class. "It gives active participation."

The Central seventh-graders interviewed Friday by The Courier said their interest in the Promethean Activboards has not waned since they were installed last fall in all classrooms at the school. Many of them believe the technology has improved classroom learning and affected their achievement.

More than 100 classrooms and libraries across Waterloo Community Schools received Activboards last November as part of a pilot project. Up to six Activboards were installed in each of the district's 19 other schools. Eight of those schools will be outfitted with the boards this summer at a cost of $1.92 million following approval by the Board of Education earlier this month.

Included are Kittrell, Edison, Black Hawk and Orange elementaries; George Washington Carver Academy; and East, Expo and West high schools. Funding comes from the 1 percent school sales tax.

"It's an absolutely wonderful idea to continue doing that," said Central Principal Marla Padget. She believes students are more engaged - and that has other benefits in the classroom.

"It does cut back on the number of discipline referrals," she said. "The more engaged the child is, the less likely they are to cause a disruption."

Increased interest

Computer screen images are projected onto Activboards and manipulated by touch or a wireless pen. The system includes software to create visuals called "flip charts" for classroom lessons. Teachers also can display Web sites and play videos on the boards.

Seventh-grader Kyatta Spencer said the Activboard made it more enjoyable to put together her social studies report on Holocaust victim Anne Frank. "It's fun, because when we do projects, we do them on the computer and show them on the Promethean board," she said. She was able to add visual elements to her report, like pictures taken off the Internet.

"I think it helps students get their grades up. I think they pay more attention," added Brittaney Kammeyer. That's because the class is faster paced as teachers use flip charts for lessons rather than a chalkboard and Activotes for quizzes rather than pencil and paper.

Haley Dahl said the pictures and other visual elements teachers use on their flip charts keeps her more interested in class.

"I hated going to math, and now it's fun because she can make stuff up on the board," Dahl said.

Dahl has seen a corresponding improvement in her grades, as well. "Before my math grade was a D and now it's, I think, a B-plus," she said.

Stephan said the visual elements that can be added or the music clips she sometimes brings into a lesson better tap into some students' learning styles.

"If they're more attentive, then their grades go up," she said.

That's the type of help Padget hoped teachers would be able to provide students with the aid of the technology.

"The use of the Activboard through the Activote informs your instruction," she said. "It helps us understand where we need to put our emphasis."