DEMAREST — Students are saying goodbye to shoebox dioramas and paper book reports.

Instead, they are learning to become technology savvy through podcasts, documentary films and using PowerPoint.

District Technology Coordinator Victoria Zimmerman and teacher Jonathan Regan are at the epicenter of the computer hurricane that has engulfed the middle school; exciting and motivating the students to think creatively about any topic.

Zimmerman and Regan enlightened fellow teachers at the New Jersey Techspo Conference in Atlantic City Feb. 1. They proposed their idea for a presentation concerning technology at Demarest and the conference committee approved it.

"This is my 10th year at one of these conventions and this was one of the better ones because the keynote speaker was New York Times columnist David Pogue," said Zimmerman. "Through all the presentations, you were able to really see how technology has evolved and the projects that were shown were elaborately in depth."

What made the presentation special was that three-quarters of it displayed the students work.

"It’s exciting to see various aspects of technology and it was great to showcase what we do in our school," said Regan. "At one point we had 42 people, which was great."

After the presentation, the two Demarest representatives handed out CDs with material so the other teachers could implement the lesson plans when they returned to their schools. Zimmerman and Regan have already received phone calls and e-mails praising their ideas on how to incorporate technology on middle school topics.

"One woman said we were very lucky in our staff to have people that are supportive of any idea and not only that, but they’re ready to run with it," said Zimmerman. "Everyone associates technology to math and science, but here at Demarest it’s tied to everything from social studies to language arts."

Internally the presentation has also received rave reviews.

"After sitting through many workshops this is one of the best, since it incorporated the audience and it wasn’t isolated to just technology," said middle school Principal Michael Fox. "It used the student’s work, while giving generosity and accolades to the staff. The speakers were energetic and excitable, not monotonous."

It’s very noticeable that technology is an important component of Demarest’s curriculum. Regan discussed that students are currently working on podcasts, stop-motion animation, documentary films, PowerPoints and graphic design. All of these applications provide the necessary skills on how to be creative, collaborative with other students and interactive, but the newest undertaking is wikitechnology.

"There are a couple kids that have a sort of groupie following to the things we do," said Zimmerman. "There are about four or five kids that look for technology opportunities."

Zimmerman and Regan believe that in today’s society, technology is seen everywhere and is a vital part of everyone’s daily lives. If the students can get a head start on grasping the latest application, it will give them an advantage.

"It’s a life skill and the kids are not going into a career that doesn’t use technology," said Zimmerman. "It teaches them creative problem solving and our role is to think creatively and have the kids become comfortable no matter what is put in front of them, they will know how to use it."

The two representatives have seen technology-related projects pay great dividends. Students have stopped them in class to discuss their own movies, while still learning the necessary material.

"It raises their level of interest in the subject, the kids are digital natives and we’re talking to them on their own terms," Regan said.

A positive aspect in the way that technology is incorporated is that many of the applications are easy to learn and user friendly.

"You don’t have to understand technology to know how to use it, just like people know how to drive a car, but can’t take apart the engine," said Zimmerman. "You don’t have to care why, people need to get over their technophobe."

As for Zimmerman and Regan, they’re just going to keep researching the latest software and technological advancement and see how they can apply it for middle school topics. The two are always looking out for the students to see how they can make learning fun.

"As a principal we’re very fortunate to have a staff that incorporates technology and are willing to do so. The two gave all compliments to staff through showing off their work," Fox said.