To ensure that state standards are met – and student education is best-fostered, teaching at Cub Run leverages a continually-attenuated mix of refined traditional program methodology and cutting-edge technology. Thus, fostering initiatives that help with the acquisition of Senteo Interactive Response Systems is amongst the strategic desires held by the PTA.

At Cub Run, Senteo system technology is integrated with Smart Boards – large presentation screens that support fingertip touch functionality – to yield a robust learning and assessment environment that provides unique, high-tech support of student comprehension and development. Students have lesson material opened up to them through engaging and highly-interactive presentations – and then use Senteo remote control devices (referred to as “clickers”) to answer test questions posed on the Smart Board. Test answer results via the Senteos are computed for teachers in real time.

This technology gives our Cub Run community both convenience and an edge over traditional instructional approaches. By accessing and updating Smart Board presentation files to meet changing needs, teachers can spend less time creating programs – and more time focusing on instruction and student attention. Teachers can also tap into a growing Smart Board community that fosters user collaboration and the latest enhancements inherent through ongoing development. But most importantly, the Senteos allow teachers to quickly see how well students understand the material being covered in class.

Fortunately, site licenses for Smart Boards at Cub Run are maintained by FCPS. But in the changing environment that is Fairfax County, to date the provision of Senteos is not fully supported. At present only 3 of our current 7 Senteo systems are provided by FCPS; the other 4 have been made possible by funds raised by the Cub Run PTA. As Cub Run's current goal is to provide one system per classroom, 6 more Senteo Smartboards need to be acquired. The PTA continues to seek donors and new initiatives that may help make this vision become a Cub Run classroom reality.