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NORTH LEWISBURG — As seventh-grade social studies teacher Kacy Moore quizzed her students on the fall of the Roman Empire Wednesday, Feb. 4, her students answered not with pens and pencils, but with palm-size, handheld remote controls.

This year, students at Triad Middle School are using a TurningPoint program that allows teachers to quiz their students with a software program utilizing Microsoft PowerPoint. As multiple choice quiz questions about Roman history flashed up on a projector screen, students reached out with their remotes and punched in a number corresponding to what they believed was the correct answer.

As Moore revealed the answer, the screen instantly showed how many students answered correctly, as well as how many answered incorrectly.

Depending on how many students responded correctly, Moore said she can quickly decide if her students understand the material.

"It gives you the opportunity to reteach if you need to and then move on if you don't," she said.

Duane Caudill, principal at the middle school, said the program was purchased about a year ago. It is being offered to every classroom this year. The primary benefit, he said, is that it gives teachers instant feedback into how well students understand what they're being taught. Teachers also can print reports of the results, allowing them to review how well their students fare in a particular topic. The program can be adapted to fit just about any subject, he said.

"We have some teachers that are working hard to find the many avenues they can go beyond," Caudill said. "You're really only limited by your creativity."

An additional benefit of the program, he said, is that it is compatible with programs such as PRO-Ohio, which are geared toward helping students prepare for the Ohio Achievement and Ohio Graduation tests.

One difficulty with the program, Moore said, is that teachers have to spend time developing the PowerPoint presentations. However, more textbook companies are utilizing the technology and incorporating it into their products, which may eventually make it easier for teachers.

"As we move forward, there are going to be more things available you don't have to create yourself," Moore said.

The program may be a shift from what many parents remember from their school days, but Moore said her students, who have grown up with technology, picked up on it almost immediately.

Seventh graders Sarah Field and Julie Boes said they use the program about once every other week.

"It's fun because you get to press buttons and stuff and you don't have to write it down," Sarah said.

Julie said science classes seem to frequently use the program, which is a break from the normal routine.

"If you like something that's fun," she said, "you'll pick it up faster."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.