Students from McNair elementary were able to take part in a new type of school last week at the opening ceremony for a Digital Schoolhouse.
The Digital Schoolhouse is a program that is funded through Computer Associates' non-profit Digital Schoolhouse Foundation. The organization creates a schoolroom setting where students have the opportunity to learn more about technology while also studying their curriculum.
Susan Benezra, McNair principal, said the sixth graders from her school who she signed up for the opportunity were able to continue their study on meal worms while at the ribbon cutting.
"They did a full research project on meal worms," said Benezra, adding that the teacher before hand told the Computer Associates staff at the schoolhouse of the current science class theme.
As a part of the now permanent program, the Digital Schoolhouse will be in session every day for Washington, D.C. and the metro area schools to sign their fifth and sixth grade classes up to work in the labs that will be staffed by Computer Associates employee volunteers and certified teachers.
The program is free and focuses on educating students and their teachers more about technology and providing them with the opportunity to use the latest technology in a classroom setting.
Herndon's Digital Schoolhouse location is the first of its kind in the Washington, Northern Virginia area. Other locations include Islandia, N.Y. and Lisle, Illinois. There is also a traveling version of the Digital Schoolhouse that has visited New Orleans, Orlando, Fla. and Las Vegas.