Stacy Erwin teaches 5th grade social studies at Eden Gardens Magnet in Shreveport.
Like many teachers across the Ark-La-Tex, Erwin uses technology as a teaching tool in the classroom. She knows this kind of technique is the future of teaching.
"I used an app today that I was able to give a quick assessment in just a matter of minutes. They are very comfortable with tablet devices and I-devices so a lot of times they're 'teaching me things as well."
Caddo Parish alone uses nearly 4,000 tablets in their classrooms across the district. Along with this new way of learning comes some concerns with it comes to your kids health. These handy gadgets could be harboring germs that lead to more sick days for students. Recent research says that tablets and cell phones can have more 10 times the germs and bacteria than a toilet seat.
"You're constantly touching surfaces that other human beings have touched. You don't know where there hands have been anymore than you know where yours have been so it's just a good practice."
Lisa Stamper is the director of infection prevention and control at Willis Knighton Health Systems. We asked Lisa to test some of this technology to see just how dirty tablets can get with everyday use. She found more than 2,200 germs on one tablet.
"Hand washing is the number one way of preventing the spread of germs. It doesn't have to be anti-bacterial soap. It doesn't have to be anything special. It's the actual physical friction of washing your hands that remove the vast majority of germs."
Back at Mrs. Erwin's class, she squirts sanitizer into the hands of each of her students as they enter the classroom. It's an effort to prevent the spread of germs.
"That's just an extra little layer as they enter my room. It's available at the door as they exit. I assign the iPads to the students to they get the same one everyday so that's just another little extra thing that I choose to do. Germs are everywhere and we're going to find them everywhere but that's just an extra little layer."
An extra layer that could keep here kids in their seats instead of out sick.
