Teachers at Wailuku Elementary School are enjoying new SMART Boards, which they say have increased student engagement by making learning visible, tactile and fun. Courtesy photo

Following a two-year effort, Wailuku Elementary School has completed a campus-wide technology overhaul, equipping every classroom with new SMART Boards and introducing tools like multi-color 3D printing and global telescope access.

According to the school, the transition to interactive SMART Boards was a central part of the upgrade, envisioned and driven by the school’s new Technology Coordinator Amanda Wilson, who spearheaded the initiative from a concept to the classroom installation.

“I just saw a great opportunity to upgrade teachers’ and students’ lives by getting rid of rusty old wires and blinding projectors by replacing them with something that gives teachers more tools in their toolboxes to enrich learning in their classrooms,” said Wilson.

The vision was championed by Principal Nikan Arapoff, who prioritized the comprehensive tech upgrade to help Wailuku students remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.

“This was truly a team effort,” Arapoff said. “Seeing the community rally behind our students has been inspiring. We are committed to providing our teachers with the best possible tools to foster creativity and collaboration.”

The physical implementation of the SMART Boards also took a team effort, executed by Salvator Merrifield and the school’s custodial staff, including Christina Sauceda, Bobby Alipeo, and Ronald Yago led by Clarence Shadd.

In addition to the new interactive displays, Wailuku Elementary has added a Bambu Labs 3D printer capable of printing multiple colors on a single object. This allows students to bring complex designs to life with a level of detail previously unavailable in an elementary setting.

Beyond the classroom, students in the Wailuku Elementary Astronomy Club have a new window into the universe.

Through the efforts of John Hughes and his relationships with JD Armstrong and the Institute for Astronomy, students have gained access to the Las Cumbres Observatory global telescope network.

This partnership allows students to conduct real-world observations and engage with real-time astronomical data.

“The kids recently took a picture of a star 17,000,000,000 light years away,” Hughes said. “Our students now use a SMART Board to engage with Las Cumbres, and it is pretty impressive to watch.”

Teachers said they are already seeing a shift in their classroom dynamics.

“I use my SMART Board all day every day now, and so do my substitutes,” said Dakota Tabor. “It has become an essential part of our classroom ecosystem.”