More and more schools now realize that the use of technology in the classroom provides students with many academic opportunities.
Greenwood schools are starting to use laptops and tablets to enrich curriculums and prepare students for life after high school — whether they go on to four- or two-year colleges or jump right into the workforce.
The use of technology “prepares them not only for a future in education but also for a career, because even now some of the jobs that wouldn’t normally require the use of technology are upgrading systems,” said Charles Johnson, the Greenwood Public School District’s director of federal programs. “These are just common skills now that everybody needs to know. In education, we have to prepare the students, because technology is only going to advance from this point.”
The Greenwood district has been incorporating technology in classrooms for several years. Currently, many of the classrooms use Promethean boards and scanners, Mondopads and student response “clickers.”
In the district’s pre-K program at Threadgill Elementary School, the students each use an iPad.
“We wanted to make sure we start them with the use of technology at a very early young age so that would be something they were used to,” said Johnson. “We found through different research-based strategies that younger students now tend to develop and learn better with the use of technology.”
The district is also pushing one-to-one technology with each student having access to a Chromebook, iPad or laptop.
“Since most of the assessments are done online, we feel that the students need to have access to technology and the use of that technology on a daily basis,” said Johnson. “(Technology) keeps the students engaged and provides an opportunity for them to work on different things at their own pace.”
The high school library is stocked with 95 iPads and has ordered 90 Kindles. Teachers can check out a cart of about 30 devices for students to use during class time.
Johnson said that he has even seen that the use of technology gets children more interested in their classwork.
“The students were eager to learn through the use of the iPad versus your traditional books,” he said. “They would read more, and they would find things that were more interactive.”
Although technology is more readily available to children more than it has ever been, some students may not have access to a personal computer or device at home. With the one-to-one initiative, the district is making sure that every student gets access to technology daily and is on equal standing when he or she graduates high school.
Classes like Greenwood High’s STEM applications taught by Shavonda Johnson also help all children have access to technology daily.
The class is mandatory for all ninth-graders, and Johnson teaches the students advanced computer and technology skills, such as how to use real engineering design software and robotics simulations.
Technology “gets students ready for the ever-changing global society,” the STEM teacher said. “We want them to be able to compete with people all around the world, because the STEM industry is growing. Right now just in the state of Mississippi, there are more than 40,000 STEM jobs. Nationwide, you’re looking at 8 million jobs. We want our students to be able to apply for those jobs.”
The district also has iPads that are just for those studying English as a second language. They are able to carry around the iPads throughout the day and have access to Google translator and Rosetta Stone software to help guide them in learning a new language.
“This helps them with the language barrier and provides more opportunities for the student,” said Charles Johnson. “Now, they are able to figure out things on their own.”
This year, Pillow Academy is upping its technology by implementing Google Classroom.
Classroom was designed by Google to help teachers save time, keep classes organized and improve communication with students.
The free Web-based platform with unlimited cloud storage integrates a Google Apps for Education account with all Google apps services, including Google Docs, Gmail and Google Calendar. The app saves time and paper and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate and stay organized.
Teachers can quickly see who has or hasn’t completed the work and provide direct, real-time feedback and grades right in Classroom.
Before this year, Pillow offered computer labs at each of its schools and at the library, and elementary students were also using iPads in class.
In the spring the school purchased 90 Chromebooks, and students in grades 2-10 began taking their Aspire achievement tests on the computers.
“We needed to use these Chromebooks more, and we needed to get more into technology,” said Melanie Farmer, the school’s director of computer operations. “I have two children who are in college, and everything they do is online. I thought we needed to prepare our students for that.”
Farmer began researching online learning management systems and came across Google Classroom.
“We talked to other schools and decided to go with Google,” said Farmer. “Over 70 of the top universities in the United States are using Google Classroom, so we thought it was the most common way to go.”
With the new system, Pillow will now allow students in ninth to 12th grades to bring their own devices — laptops, tablets and smartphones — to school this year. Those who do not bring devices will have access to the school’s Chromebooks.
Farmer said the school plans for its fourth- and fifth-graders to begin taking computer classes that will introduce them to Google Classroom and Gmail. All students in grades 4-12 will have a school email address.
Students and teachers will have access to Google Classroom from any device, including their cellphones.
“For example, if they have a vocabulary test the next day, while they are on the bus on the way to a football game, they can study because it is right there on their phone,” said Farmer.
Teachers can also use Google Calendar and add dates of tests and when assignments are due.
“I can look at my class, and it shows all of my assignments. Students can look their calendars and see all of their assignments for their classes at once,” said Farmer.
Farmer said that the students, however, will not have free rein with their devices at school. The use of the devices is at the teachers’ discretion, and the school Internet has a filter that will prohibit them from going on certain websites.
“This first year, there will be a learning curve,” Farmer said. “We’ll grow it throughout the year. The main goal is to get everybody ready for college, but we are looking at it as much more than that.”
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
