- NJASA
- 2012
How iPads, Apps, Twitter and More Engage and Educate Students
Posted by Dr. Rich Bozza on 2/9/2012
It used to be that students had to turn off their phones and other technology when they entered the classroom. Now, in some cases, they’re directed to power them on. It’s part of the drive toward technology for schools seeking to meet new statewide curriculum standards requiring students to master 21st century skills. That means many educators are now embracing once-banned smart phones, iPads and similar devices, as well as social media platforms from YouTube to Twitter.
But just what does the 21st century classroom look like in New Jersey? It’s powerful, engaging, and unlike anything you’ve experienced as a student – even if you graduated as recently as the year 2000.
As chairman of the NJASA Technology Committee, Fort Lee School District Superintendent Steven Engravalle has kept his pulse on technology in the schools, both in New Jersey and nationwide. According to him, the most common use of technology in schools today is probably Web 2.0 – an interactive experience through social media and connectivity – blogs, wikis, Google docs. Teachers and students are posting blogs and wikis and sharing a dialogue. They’re able to have real conversations about literary work or an event in history, for example. Importantly, educators can set up Web 2.0 as a structured environment, so it’s safe from inappropriate content. It’s very interactive; students are fully engaged in the subjects they are studying.
Historically, students participated in learning more passively. When Steven and I were in school, sitting and listening to the teacher, the retention rate was probably around 30 percent. The retention rate goes up exponentially when students interact with the subject through an authentic experience. Technology is the tool that allows students to do this.
Imagine learning about a country in Africa. Then think about what it would be like, not only reading about it or seeing images of the country, but speaking with its residents. That’s what technology allows – taking learning to a deeper level. The teacher no longer has to be the holder of the content. There’s literally no limit to the amount of knowledge that students can acquire. The teacher’s role shifts to framing the discussion. S/he doesn’t teach students what to think but rather how to think. It’s a completely new paradigm for instruction.
Educator Ian Jukes said it best. The director of the 21st Century Fluency Project pointed out, “This isn’t about teaching PowerPoint; it is about teaching kids to be better communicators. This isn’t about teaching Microsoft Word; it is about teaching kids to be better writers. Learning about the technology is nothing but an incidental (but essential) byproduct of that process. The real issue in education is about thinking – the technology is just the vehicle that will allow us to go there.”
But technology in schools does not come without its challenges. You might think the main impediment to equipping all of our schools with technology is cost. That is a significant factor, but thanks to the generosity of institutions such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Apple Computer, it’s less of a hindrance for some districs than you might expect. And while cost still remains an impediment for many of us, a more significant limitation could be educators unfamiliar with the next level of technology.
The most difficult obstacles to overcome are fear and complacency. Educators are in a comfort zone. They’ve been teaching a certain way for a long time now. Change takes courage. But I think teachers are ready for technology if it’s presented in the right way.
Steve shared the story of one teacher who had a longstanding career in the public school system. She had taught for 38 years. When she started, she didn’t know what a mouse was, or how to turn on the computer. But we met her at her level, and worked slowly so that she was comfortable. Today, she’s the technology coordinator for her building!
Success stories like these show the importance of teacher training. The students are the natives to technology; teachers who grew up before the age of iPhones are the newcomers. We need to stay on top of the latest technologies so that we can share them with our students.
That’s why the NJASA holds the TECHSPO conference each year. A record number of attendees participated this past January – teachers, administrators, curriculum directors, and school board members. This shows a commitment to incorporate the technologies that have already permeated their students’ everyday life, in a way to engage students and advance learning.
You’ll find a variety of options already in New Jersey’s schools: laptops, Smart boards and electronic readers. How about iPads to create a 1:1 learning climate? Textbooks on the iPad feature interactive animations, diagrams, photos and video – literally bringing the content to life in a way that we never have before. Tech tools also can launch a love of literacy; read the classics or the latest release from your favorite author. Tweeting can encourage student achievement. Online courses are growing at the college and university levels – why not utilize them more in K-12? We’re trying to encourage teachers to try Podcasting. That’s the perfect way for a child who misses school due to illness to see the lesson and catch up on the work.
We are more capable than ever to deliver information and instruction to students when they are ready to learn, not just during a schedule preplanned by the teacher. ‘Just in time’ delivery, a concept that transformed the need for manufacturing, service and retail warehousing of supplies, is now being applied to student learning needs through technology.
Many New Jersey schools are already strong in their use of technology. Howell Township Schools placed first among mid-sized schools using technology in the seventh annual Digital School Districts Survey conducted by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association. The purpose of the survey was “to recognize exemplary school boards and districts’ use of technology to govern the district, communicate with students, parents and the community and to improve district operations.” Springfield, N.J. public schools placed first in the small student population category.
The first place winner in the large student population category – Clark County School District – was represented at NJASA’s TECHSPO. Clark County educator and administrator Jhone Ebert identified 21st century learning as part of a greater learning community that includes online learning and 24/7 access to resources. Students benefit from highly interactive and explorative learning experiences that also teach valuable technology skills.
Given that schools have embraced technology, what is the real impact on learning? Take away the term, technology, and think of it as a tool – not a magic bullet. Technology allows us to differentiate instruction so that the advanced student gets what s/he needs while the remedial student also thrives. Technology allows students to learn at their own pace. Technology provides the immediate data that educators need to make decisions on next steps in instruction. Technology allows us to address each of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences. Students can embrace the learning styles that work best for them: visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical.
Marshall McCullen once said, “Our age of anxiety is in great part the result of trying to do today’s jobs with yesterday’s tools.” The schools that allow students just 40 minutes of computer time a week are putting them at a disadvantage. You couldn’t be globally competitive with access to technology just 40 minutes a week.
It’s time to power up, and you’ll find the Chief Education Officers at the helm of this journey. They are responsible for bringing schools into the 21st century with state-of-the-art facilities, technology and intellectual property that enable educators to engage and teach students, and students to learn and prepare for higher education, professional careers and trades.
The days of ‘chalk and talk’ alone are over. Technology advancements are coming at us quickly, and we have to adapt accordingly to ensure that our children can remain globally competitive in today’s world – and tomorrow’s.
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