Column: District 518 pays attention to technology

• District 518

District 518

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — If you ever wonder what’s new and exciting in a school, check out what’s happening in technology.

Today’s students learn far differently than those of years ago. A big part of that is due to the advancement of learning through the use of technology. Most new curriculums that districts now use offer a wealth of technology-based items to support the teacher in the classroom in reinforcing lessons through interactive programs students can work on not only in the school setting, but also at home. As a result of these changes, studies have found that students are more successful, more engaged and more excited to learn.

District 518 is in the early planning stages of a Learning Device initiative study to put a personal device in the hands of students to allow greater access to the use of technology in learning. Learning Devices encompass empowerment, communication, collaboration and success; innovation and creativity; online learning, and even the way we think about learning environments.

Teaching has changed as a result of more technology, as well. Teachers can now post homework online so the students who “forget” their homework at school can now just pull it up at home. Teachers can post a video lesson or notes to reinforce what was initially taught in the classroom, or support that student with the lesson content who happened to be gone that day. Students can submit completed homework online for teacher grading or review. Through the use of ITV, teachers can teach a unit on a geographical area and, when the unit is completed, they can take a virtual field trip to the area and get a real life view of what it is really like without leaving the classroom.

The classrooms of today don’t look much like the one their parents and grandparents were in when they were in school. We continually try to meet the needs of students in the best way possible by facilitating their learning styles and preparing them for the real world — one very different than 25 years ago.

Diane Standafer is a database/network specialist for District 518.

Tags: district 518, opinion, columns, education, worthington