Fifteen Higgins Middle School teachers learned how to use their new “Smart Cart” at a training session December 6 in the Higgins Library. Each cart is outfitted with a laptop computer, LCD projector, Elmo Document Camera, Elmo Wireless Tablet, cables to enable projection from an iPad, an iPod docking station and speakers.

The Smart Carts were donated by the Peabody Education Foundation as part of the group’s Partners in Education (PIE) initiative to provide technology to Peabody Public School classrooms. The generous contributors to the Partners in Education program include: Lyon Waugh Auto Group, Analogic Corporation, GraVoc Associates, Northeast  Massachusetts Economic Development Corporation and Su-Chang's Restaurant.

The state-of-the art mobile technology carts were distributed to the school’s Cullen Library and Roche Auditorium as well as to five clusters:  the Grade 6 Penguins, Dolphins and Stringrays;  Grade 7 Panthers and Grade 8 Orion. Cluster teachers submitted proposals to the school administration explaining how they plan to use the technology with their students. After the initial projects are completed, the carts will be re-assigned.

The carts allow teachers to effortlessly switch from projecting from the laptop to the document camera.  A modern version of an overhead projector, the document camera allows teachers to employ new teaching strategies. Experience some of the document camera's wireless tablet functions here.