PHOTOS: Digital Tools Take Learning from Yawn to Yowza for Muskego-Norway Students

Bay Lane and Lake Denoon Middle School students showcased recent projects using technology, and it was evident that geology, history and science are just more interesting when you add computer programs and applications.

Hundreds of students took part in "Digital Learning Day," which is part of a nationwide initiative to show how technology is positively influencing learning. Everyone who presented had to show what technology targets they achieved in doing reports on everything from volcanoes to the Russian Revolution.

In the meantime they had to also show their knowledge of the subject, which is a little like hiding the vegetables in your mashed potatoes to make them taste better.

"It's really taking what they do every day — working on computers — and applying it to learning, and as educators, we're trying to introduce technology across the curriculum," said Rachel Yurk, a technology integrator at Muskego-Norway.

Editing, the use of "green screen" technology and other web-based programs certainly makes research and the often-dreaded class presentation a lot more fun, and that's the point. In fact, students have been known to find a few more tech tricks out there, which they bring back to the classroom.

"Of course we need to look into it first before they can use an application, but it's a lot like reverse-mentoring," explained librarian Toni Heinowski at Bay Lane. "Many times they're teaching us because for students it's so natural to them to use technology."

The goals are to continue learning math, science, English and social studies while also gaining key skills needed for the workplace in a world where the pace of technology is exponentially increasing.

"If you think about it, we're trying to prep them for the tools in the workplace that haven't even been invented yet," Heinowski said.