Pre-K-5th grade students at Richard Bowling Elementary School cast their vote for the President of the United States on Monday, November 3, 2008. Using the Turning Technologies Student Response System, students were able to participate in the election process. Each class was escorted to the polling site (Upper Computer Lab) where the students sat on the floor. The students received instructions on how to use the response devices and how to identify the letters “A” and “B” to select the Presidential candidates, Barack Obama or John McCain, respectively. Prior to casting, their vote’s students took a polling test to ensure their devices were working properly. Students also received a small talk on their ‘Civic’ duties as a citizen of Richard Bowling Elementary School to vote. The upper grade students asked questions about the process involving the reinstatement of the right to vote if someone was a convicted felon.

Providing the students with immediate feedback on their class winner made this process a success. Teachers were excited about the integration of technology, history, and language arts. It was easy to create Turning Reports after each voting session. The students are looking forward to exercising their right to vote in the next 8-14 years as citizens of the United States of America.

Charlene D. Winley
Instructional Technology Specialist
Norfolk Public Schools
Richard Bowling 628-2515
Coleman Place 852-4641
cdwinley@nps.k12.va.us