Kent Schools move beyond mouse and keyboard

Technology often seems to progress faster and what was once the “latest gaget” is soon obsolete. How are schools keeping up with the times and are they able to effectively do so? TV2 reporter David Hrvatin and reporter Sade Hale looked into what one local high school is doing.

[rpavideo caption=”David Hrvatin has a first-hand look at technology in the classroom at Kent Roosevelt High School and examines some of the trends in instructional technology.”]RPA_03_Hrvatin_EduTech[/rpavideo]

Technology: A Classroom Learning Tool

By: Sade Hale

KENT, OHIO–In this day and age, technology is everywhere, and technological advancements are made daily. Technology has now changed the way humans act, interact and react. Schools across America are now using technology as a tool to educate students.

Theodore Roosevelt High School is one of many schools using technology as a classroom tool. Dennis Love, Assistant Principal of Roosevelt High School said the school has been using SMART boards in its classrooms for about five to six years now.

SMART boards, created by the company SMART, are interactive white boards that can complete computer like functions. Instead of using dry eraser marker on the boards, teachers use digital ink pens. All notes and lessons written on SMART boards can be saved.

Love approves of technology in classrooms.

“I think it is really important that students use technology in schools today because it will be a big part of their future.  I think if it is used right and properly the students love it. I think if they [teachers] are properly trained and it is something they want to do, it works out perfectly for them,” Love said.

The assistant principal of Roosevelt isn’t the only person who approves of technology in schools, some parents do too.

Pam Weese, who currently has two children enrolled at Roosevelt, said she thinks technology in classrooms is a good idea.

[pullquote]I like that they [students] can do a lot of their work online and submit it online to their teachers. Their textbooks are online, so if they forget their books they can pull it up online, and I like that I can check their grades. — Pam Weese[/pullquote]

She also believes technology can become a distraction if students “bring their home technology to the school.”

“You know a lot kids carry their cellphones, and their iPads and iPods. I hardly ever see a kid leave this school without their face plastered to it and their thumbs going,” Weese said.

Technology in American schools

Weese said technology in schools now is different than the technology in school she grew up with. Technology as an educational tool has been on the raise in America.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is one of many factors for the increase of technology in American classrooms. The act created the Enhancing Education Through Technology Program. EETT has three major goals:

1) To improve student academic achievement through the use of educational technology

2) To ensure that every student is technologically literate by the eighth grade

3) To encourage the effective integration of technology in teacher training and curriculum development to establish research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented as best practices

In Ohio, state education standards for students, teachers and administrators include technology, according to the 2008 to 2009 State Education Reform data. According to the data, all 50 states have standards for students that include technology. Only Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah  do not have state standards for teachers that include technology.

While technology is important, Weese says “there are some other issues that need more funding before the state looks to fund more technology.”

“Well I know that there are several teachers that spread their time between several schools. Which spreads them a little thin. I think some of the things that need funding are personnel. You can’t run a program with no people or not enough people,” Weese said.

Just as technology continues to change, the educational system will continue to change.

“Schools are doing the best they can to keep up with the technology demands and the changes that are happening,” Love said.