Microsoft Expert Addresses Marlboro Teachers

Did you ever think your kids would be programming video games or building robots?

A district presentation informed teachers that this could be the future for their students.

Teachers filled the Marlboro Middle School auditorium this morning for the annual district convocation, where Microsoft Director of Innovation Chris Niehaus spoke about new technology to engage students in the classroom.

“We are surrounded by innovation,” said Superintendent Dr. David Abbott. “And most of us are unaware of the real nature, speed and power of it.”

Microsoft is engaging in a 10-year, $500 million initiative to improve teaching technology and the learning experience of students.

Niehaus said it is important now to prepare students for what their future could look like.

“The amount of data people are being asked to consume and translate really brings up the question, ‘What do we do now?’”

Niehaus introduced the district teachers to the game development technology Kudos, which is being tested in Microsoft. Students are able to build a video game from scratch, without having to know program code, and learn what it is to play something they have made.

“You can see the kids, how engaged and how focused they are with this,” he said.

He also spoke about how Microsoft’s Kinect technology, (similar to Nintendo Wii sans remote), can bring physical interaction into the learning experience.

“It’s a physical interaction through the learning experience,” Niehaus said.

And then there were the robots: students building robots from legos and learning how to functionally program them.

“It’s a fascinating area.” Niehaus said. “Robotics has been a great way to really get kids involved in a hands-on way.”

Microsoft is also developing a cloud network, a way to share between students and teachers within a district and outside of it. The network would allow teachers to share comments, assignments, textbooks, track students skill development and utilize new technology both inside and outside of the classroom.

Superintendent Dr. David Abbott said he was impressed with the new technology.

“I wish I were younger,” he said.

Abbott asked teachers to take risks in the classroom. Even if the district does not have the money to buy technology from the presentation, he asked teachers to come up with creative ways to reach the same engagement level.

“I am asking one teacher in each building to take a risk,” Abbott said. “Without risk, we don’t get anywhere.”