Butler teachers have been learning about technology and alternative classroom arrangements by taking visits to other schools in the region.

Whether it be furniture arrangements, curriculum, schedules, class sizes or use of technology every school in Pennsylvania educates its students a little differently.

Teachers from the Butler district have been taking time on in-service days this school year to visit the classrooms of teachers in other districts to get ideas and insights about how others do things.

The expenses associated with the visits are covered by the a $9,500 “Vision for the Future” grant from the Grable Foundation that the district was awarded last year. The foundation supports the successful development of children in southwestern Pennsylvania, according to its website.

Elizabeth Porco, Middle School science and social studies teacher, was among a group of teachers who spent Feb. 16 — an in-service day for Butler — touring Beaver High School and sitting in on classes there.

Porco said she and other middle school teachers were interested in seeing the school's one-to-one technology. Instead of computer labs and laptops that travel from classroom to classroom on carts, each student in the school receives their own Chromebook or iPad, which they use throughout the day and take home.

While Butler may not be moving toward a one-to-one system, Porco said the more time students can spend learning with technology, the better.

“When I want to read the news I look online, it's hard to deny that that's where the world is moving,” Porco said.

They also observed a classroom where students have the option to make choices such as what book to read in English class.

Having instruction that can change to meet students' needs is part of a concept Porco is hoping to implement through a grant — flexible seating.

Flexible seating, which would require specialized furniture, allows students to be divided into different small groups.

“It lends itself to meeting our kids where they are. They have different physical and cognitive needs and we need to take that into consideration. It's difficult for an 11-year-old to sit still for 75 minutes,” she said.

Superintendent Brian White said that what teachers focused on during the school visits was up to them.“We know we have great things going on in our school and we know others do as well. Thus it makes sense to learn from those around us,” White said.Nearly every school district that Butler reached out to was willing to accommodate the visits.School districts they visited included Seneca Valley, Karns City, North Allegheny, Mount Lebanon, Chartiers Valley, Deer Lakes, Grove City and Armstrong.Teachers and principals have returned from the visits with great insights, he said.“Some of the feedback has included the use of technology, changing how classrooms are arranged and what is innovation and what does it look like,” he said.Secondary, special education and kindergarten have already completed their visits, while the remaining elementary school teachers will do visits later this year.

A group of Butler teachers during a visit to Grove City Middle School. Butler teachers have been learning about technology and alternative classroom arrangements during visits to schools in the region.