Nanaimo student teaches teachers, other students about new classroom tools

“With a regular microscope you can only look at cells, stuff that’s really small. But with this you can do other things, like look at a flower and see the specks of pollen you wouldn’t be able to see with a regular microscope.”

Teacher Debbie Keenleyside said it was Penner’s enthusiasm for the tools, first used during a science presentation, which led the school principal to reach out to the schools Parent Advisory Council for funding to supply each classroom with a digital microscope.

Penner was then asked to show the teachers how to use them, in a display of everything he’d learned.

“Some of the teachers were so impressed they asked him to then teach their students how to use the microscopes. From there it just took off.”

Keenleyside, who takes her students out into nature once a week, said Penner flourishing when given the chance shows how important hands-on learning is.

“I really think it’s important to never give up and always look for ways to engage kids. The more you can give kids tools or opportunities to work through problems, not with pen and paper but in any interesting way you can, I think there’s often a lot of success. It’s really important for educators to never pigeonhole a student.”

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt

by Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo student teaches teachers, other students about new classroom tools

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