GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Several years ago, school administrators at Broadway Elementary recognized that computer technology was key to a child's education. So they successfully applied for a grant to purchase hundreds of laptops, desktops, smartboards, and document cameras.

A group of parents supported the project by hosting several fundraisers to raise money for upkeep.

Every classroom at Broadway Elementary has a smartboard that's connected to each classroom laptop. A smartboard is a projection of a computer sscreen that allows the teacher to put up on the board what each student is working on. And students can interact with it on their own computer screen.

Principal Sharon Kallus says smartboards are the future of classroom learning. She says, "It's a great tool. I think it's going to impact them in the technology age."

She says this allows each child to interact electronically with their teacher. She says, "Sometimes kids will interact with it, they'll take a survey, and you can automatically see the results."

And since these students have been working on computers every day since they began first grade, they are becoming quite tech-savvy. "The kids are the ones who say 'let me look at this, have you tried this,' they're not intimidated at all by technology."

But not every hour is filled with technological learning. The students still gather around their teacher to listen to her read a book.

Fifth-graders Abbey and Katlyn say they love working on the computers, but they also enjoy a good book. Abbey says computers have taught her how to become a fast typer. But she says reading is just as important because research requires reading.

Katlyn says she's learned how to type quickly through a computer program called "Type To Learn." She says she likes to listen to her teacher read a book so she can listen to a fluent reader. And she likes to follow along with her own copy of the book.