Teachers learn high tech teaching techniques

Neil Schulman

Last week, teachers and administrators attended three days of workshops designed to show them how to use mobile devices, such as laptop computers and tablets, like the iPad, to enhance education. Not only can they be used to improve how students learn in the classroom, but also outside.

Justina Nixon-Saintil said that the Verizon Foundation, the non-profit arm of Verizon, said that this program is designed for schools which have the devices, but may not know how to use them to their full effectiveness.

The emphasis of this program is to get students engaged in science, technology, engineering and math – fields known as STEM – which studies have shown are important to children’s future.

The studies have shown that students are more interested in these fields when technology is integrated into the lessons, and that dropout rates increase when students lose interest.
While science and math may be the emphasis of the program, the tablets offer benefits in other fields as well. Foreign language classes can get easy access to clips in the language they are studying, for example.

Long Branch, like all the schools to receive the grant, is considered “underserved,” because at least 40 percent of the students qualify for a free lunch program.
Nixon-Saintil said that the three day training course is just the beginning.

“We plan to work with them throughout the entire year,” she said. There will be “webinars,” online training sessions, and access to an online community of educators.
In addition to showing the teachers specific applications and programs that could help in the classroom, the workshop taught them how to use various techniques, such as the “flip classroom.” Under that system, teachers record their lectures, and let students listen to them on tablets or computers at home. Class time can be spent on “homework” and working to solve problems.

Several teachers The Link spoke to about the workshop used the word “engagement.” They said that this technology would allow them to get students’ attention, and could appeal to both audio and visual learners.

They said it would also allow them to connect the screens together, so that all students can follow what is happening at their desks.
And being able to record their lessons will help students review them at their own pace, repeating the parts they had trouble with, teachers said.