Technology in Education: First in a Six-Part Series
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a six-part series looking at the use of technology in education. Walk into any area school at any time and you likely will find students using technology – at every grade level.
Fifth-graders in Misty Cripe’s class at Mentone Elementary Jan. 31 were using Google Treks for their digital projects on U.S. states. In the media center, the librarian was using a projector to present information on bobcats to help students with reading comprehension. Math facts were being learned on iPads in a first-grade classroom.
On Jan. 30 at Washington Elementary, students in Gary Hawblitzel’s sixth-grade classes were doing various online science experiments. Kindergartners in Criss Corson’s class were learning on iPads and iTouches, while sixth-graders in Pardee Gunter’s class were building their own websites.
An autistic student was engaged with his iTouch, having a conversation with it. “But take the iTouch away, and he just sits there,” Tom Ray, Washington principal, said.
Webster’s compact dictionary defines technology as “the science of the practical or industrial arts; applied science.”
Warsaw Community Schools Chief Technology Officer Elaine Bultemeier said she didn’t know if she could define technology, but, “I can tell you how we use technology. It can be a pencil or a MacBook. We want to use it to accelerate learning.”
Technology looks different every day, every six months, she said, which makes it a challenge for schools to use it.
“The challenge for us is the constant change and acquiring it. We know we will never get ahead of technology, but we try to manage it,” Bultemeier said.
“In our district, it’s about anything that plugs in anymore,” said Brad Hagg, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. director of technology and president of Hoosier Educational Computer Coordinators.
That includes computers, iPads, printers and “anything plugged in or that has a battery, we are involved,” he said.
The importance of technology in education depends on the classroom, Bultemeier said. In a high school business class where students are learning about technology, technology is vitally important. In a kindergarten class, where students are just learning their letters, technology might not be a high priority.
“It’s up to teachers in the classroom to determine which tool to use,” Bultemeier said.
Warsaw Schools’ classrooms are equipped with projectors, iPads, computers, document cameras and interactive white boards. But it’s the teachers who determine what tools are best for the class.
“We don’t want technology to get in the way of learning,” Bultemeier said. “We want it to enhance learning.”
Of technology’s importance, Hagg said, “It’s critical on a lot of different fronts.”
On the instructional front in education, technology’s focus is educating kids.
The Indiana Department of Education is requiring schools to provide more data and reports than ever in the past, Hagg said. That takes quite a few technological resources.
“We have the same software and technology needs as any business would,” he said. Whether that’s payroll, accounting or any other business area, the technology has to be there to support those processes as well.
Teachers and schools are always struggling to balance good and bad technology.
Hagg said there are safe versus unsafe and cost-effective versus non-cost-effective uses of technology.
“The safe, we try to put all the protections in we can to protect kids,” he said.
Valley has acceptable use policies for technology for students and staff. The school corporation has filters for websites to keep the non-educational inappropriate websites away.
“We try to stay current and on top of our technology policies,” Bultemeier said. “We post them on our website. We talk about it in our technology committee. We’re starting an advisory council, which will include people from the community, mostly parents. It’s just another way for parents to get involved.”
The student information system at Warsaw Schools allows parents to get online and see their students’ grades.
“It’s a great way to keep parents engaged in the process,” Bultemeier said.
