New year brings downloading & refreshing of educational technology

Marcus Hijkoop
Features Editor

In the upcoming school year, students, teachers and parents alike will be introduced to new technology, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it is the use of online databases, social networking sites, or the newly installed Apple devices, the NCHS community will have access to technology unavailable to the majority of public high schools.

In the past few years, the NCHS Library and Media Center staff has pushed for the incorporation of new technology into every day learning. Current upperclassmen have had the opportunity to enhance their learning experience through the use of SMART Boards, iPads, iMacs, online research databases, programs, and even social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

According to Library Department Chair, Michelle Luhtala, New Canaan High School’s status as a Free-Range Media and now a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school is essential to student learning. “Those two policies are the most exciting offerings we have because they give kids control of their own learning, ” she said. “If you have the tools to answer your questions and you are not restricted at finding the answers, then one question leads to another.”

Though NCHS students may be accustomed to having “Free-Range Media”, a recent survey created by Technology Integration Teacher, Cathy Swan, suggests that NCHS is quite unique in its internet accessibility. Ms. Swan shared the survey with fellow Google Certified Teachers, and then at CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) in the nation’s capitol in March, 2010. NCHS colleague, Ms. Luhtala, then reached out to her edWeb.net Emerging Tech community, who also participated in the survey. As of April 26, 2011, 216 high schools responded. Of the 216… (see graphic below)

Newly appointed Principal, Dr. Bryan Luizzi, said he recognizes the importance of keeping popular websites available to students. “Technology is all about the different uses for communication,” he said. “We are looking to see if we can utilize well known social networking sites, as the appropriate use of powerful tools has the capability of making learning richer and deeper.”

Dr. Luizzi also expressed his excitement for the BYOD policy. “One of the exciting things we’re looking to bring to NCHS is ‘Bring Your Own Device’, a program where students bring their own electronic devices to do school research,” he said. “Even a smart-phone, if appropriate, could be used for learning purposes.”

Austin DaCunha, a junior at Brookfield High School, spoke positively of the contributions his former Principal, Dr. Luizzi, made at his last school. “He basically modernized our school in every way possible, from iPads to new computers and SMART Boards,” he said. “I would be genuinely surprised if he didn’t push for technological development at NCHS. He is a young principal with a lot of unique ideas that help make teachers’ and students’ lives much easier and school more enjoyable.”

For the time being, however, Dr. Luizzi said he would like to become familiar with what has already been done at NCHS in the last few years and over the summer. “My transition for the first few months will be to learn about what we have done so far with technology, and look to where we can expand from there,” he said.

Dr. Luizzi will not be the only person to have to familiarize with new technology in the school. Since June 22, there have been many introductions and updates of new and old technology and programs. Most notably, a cart of Apple iPads and iPod Touches available to rent, similar to the COWs (Computers On Wheels) that have been available for a few years now. Programs that have been updated over the summer include PowerSchool, Naviance, Moodle and GoogleApps.

Students will now be able to access all GoogleApps programs and be able to use Naviance as a tool to connect with universities and employers. Naviance uses compatibility to find students schools and employment ideas, and even submits applications electronically through eDocs. As of Friday, August 26, students and parents were also able to check class schedules specific to each student on PowerSchool. Throughout the year, PowerSchool will also provide a student’s attendance record, progress report, and report card for parents and students to access.

With new technology and programs, Ms. Luhtala said it is important for students and teachers to experiment and collaborate at first to gain general understanding, and then be provided with detailed instructions for specific tasks. “It’s when teachers and students really need the information that they really learn it,” she said. “So sometimes it’s better to offer little mini workshops for really specific things, or two minute YouTube tutorials.”

Ms. Luhtala also added that this technique is more reliable now than a few years ago, as over the years, younger classes have come to be more familiar with technology than older classes. “Every incoming ninth grade class will learn more than the class before it. Every year we put a little more technology into learning,” she said. “We’re doing things now in 4th grade that we used to do in 9th grade.”

With many plans and ideas being put into effect already, Dr. Luizzi said that any further plans will be determined based on success and appropriate use of past technology. “One of our essential questions has been how technology could change learning, as it provides students with access to all the research and knowledge in the world,” he said. “That is the key question that will guide us as to how we can further implement technology in the upcoming year.”