Part 4: What Role Should Technology Play in Classrooms?

Editor's Note: Earlier this month, Patch submitted a series of five questions to each of the seven candidates running for four seats on the School District 199 School Board. Each day this week, we'll publish the candidates' answers to one of the questions we posed. To promote fairness, we asked each candidate to limit responses to 150 words; we reserved the right to edit for clarity and length if necessary. The general election is Nov. 8. Click on the candidates' names to view profiles of each candidate. Candidate Bridget Sutton has not yet turned in her responses to the questionnaire.

Inver Grove Heights Patch: How should the district employ digital technology in its classrooms?

Digital technology in the classroom has come a long ways in recent years. It will never be a replacement for teachers, but used effectively by teachers it can help students receive interesting, challenging individualized instruction and feedback. Funds for technology needs to be carefully spent based on research, not on sales pitches from vendors. Students have many different learning styles and research has shown that technology can be of great assistance.

Digital technology brings the world to the desks of our students. Information is at their fingertips. But having technology is not the answer. Our students must have the skills to make technology work for them. These are the same skills that our grandparents and parents needed. To effectively use technology, our students must be able to read and process information. They must be able to calculate and problem solve. I think that our educators recognize that digital technology is a wonderful tool, but that our students need a sound foundation in basic skills to take advantage of technology.

This is no different than technology from a generation ago. Schools 20 years ago used copy machines, video cassette recorders, overhead projectors, hand held calculators and phones in the classrooms.

We need to put the technology in the hands of kids early and often, as our students’ lives are becoming increasingly immersed in all types of technology. As kids enter our schools, many are already very comfortable with an assortment of technology (computers, iPads, iPods, etc). We should continue to explore the technological opportunities for our classes. Our staff has demonstrated wonderful success throughout the district by using technology with our students. Reading fluency has been proven to increase with the use of iPods and iPads, the student interest and involvement in learning increases when the SmartBoards are incorporated into the curriculum, which ultimately leads to higher student achievement in the classroom.

They should offer digital technology in every curriculum. It will allow the students to have access from any where using their iPads, phones, etc. It will also allow the student to be able to complete their homework without the text books. We should also have iPad available to rent out to families with no computers at home. It will benefit both those in need of a computer and the school to raise extra funding.

Proper use of technology in the classroom can help a teacher differentiate lesson plans in order to meet the learning needs of more students. Teachers are also able to structure activities in a more engaging way. Our students have grown up with multiple forms of technology in their lives and we need to be able to teach using these tools.

Teachers can put lessons on a secured course web page that students and parents can review at home or another place with Internet capabilities. This will also help students to learn at their own pace because they can review the information multiple times. This will also provide parents an opportunity for a more hands-on approach to their child’s education.

Teachers have shown us through Action Research Projects in their classrooms that when technology is utilized in their classrooms, students are more engaged, more tuned in and more successful. We live in a digital age and technology is a part of their daily lives not only in education, but in the home and workplace.  Our district, unlike many others around us, does not currently have a one-to-one technology program where every student has a laptop or an iPad.  We do not have the fiscal resources to do so. But we are constantly looking to find ways to utilize the technology we have to improve the education of our students, and looking for ways to afford new technology. The district is asking the community to support a technology levy on the ballot. Without technology in our classrooms, our students will be at a competitive and educational disadvantage.