The UFT participants were energized and focused as they made their way around the Exhibition Hall. It may have been because of the spectacular breakfast the UFT provided, but it was probably because of the enthusiasm teachers have when they are looking for new techniques, strategies and technologies to better help their students. We spoke non-stop to teachers and parent advocates throughout the morning, demonstrating and explaining what a wonderful tool Graphics-Toolbox is. Their excitement was infectious and many returned to our booth with colleagues, eager to share what they learned about this new technology and teaching strategy.
Every educator knows that of the three learning modalities, verbal, auditory and visual, it is the visual that most learners rely on. Students benefit from the activation of their visual memory systems and that is why so many teachers use various types of graphic organizers. Many of these, such as Venn Diagrams, Webs and Four Square, for example, can be created using Graphics-Toolbox. UFT participants were able to see the link between students’ thinking strategies, learning and creativity and the use of this software. Graphics-Toolbox allows full engagement of learners as they proceed through the educational process, while they also become more adept in the use of essential technology.