As I look down and swipe the
touchscreen of my new smartwatch, I am instantly
reminded of how integrated technology is in our lives these days.
Remembering back to my early days at Mechanicsville Elementary, I am reminded of trips to the library to use
these things called “computers.” Now, two
decades later, I’m carrying one around on my wrist. Watching students become
absorbed into current technology has always fascinated me. They are always finding more efficient ways to
do things. They may not realize it, but they have access to an irreplaceable
knowledge of these devices and the software that runs them, and with their help,
Hanover County is going to see some major
breakthroughs in technology over the next decade.
Breakthroughs
are happening every day, and in my second year of teaching English at Patrick
Henry High School, I have witnessed this personally. The first day I reserved
computers for my class, they came with a huge surprise. We opened up the doors
of the cart and pulled the laptops out as we normally would. One by one, the
students powered them on, each student carefully examining the device with
which they were working. The first class noticed something peculiar about the
laptops; they had a camera on the bottom.
I will admit I initially had no idea why there was a camera on the bottom of a
laptop. It was with true glee that my second class discovered the laptop could
be folded in half and used as a tablet!
Last
year’s laptops were good, but there was something
exciting about having a new set with touchscreens and extra cameras.
Seeing the students flip the screens and scroll through word documents with a
tap of the finger was one of those great moments in teaching where you know
you’re reaching everyone in the room. Eventually, we began writing our essays
and doing research for supporting strong arguments and theories, but that
initial moment proved to me how important technology is to our students.
Providing
the most up to date hardware and physical
technological innovations will always be
a challenge, but providing the best software is equally as important. Things
change on a daily basis, and we never
know which smart board or tablet is going to affect student learning, but other
integrated programs that improve connections and communication are what will
matter more. Programs such as PowerSchool
and Schoology are changing the way students can access their academic
information in ways that have never been available. Students, parents, and
teachers can all look at information in unison to ensure the best chance at
academic success; along with those are other programs that can design entire houses
or simply improve grammar while typing.
Most importantly, these programs are providing students
with exposure to the way computers will be utilized in their desired
fields of employment.
Real
innovation though, lies not in hardware or software alone, but rather in how
creatively and effectively they are used. By constantly updating knowledge and
skillsets, teachers will be instrumental in helping students use all of the
resources available to them. The tall task of being as integrated as the
students must become is superseded by the necessity of delivering
sound academic content. Though, both can be had
with some creativity and a healthy amount of curiosity. By challenging
ourselves to find different ways of doing things, we can open the doors for
many different types of learners, making the pursuit all the more worth it.
It is
impossible to predict what technologies are going to be the most important to
future generations, as they will be the ones to invent and perfect those
innovations. Thankfully, I can report without a doubt that students are getting
what they need. Little things like touch screens and academic software go a
long way in providing relevant learning, and when I am able to synthesize classroom content into a technologically
driven lesson, I know the students are accessing worlds that might not
otherwise be available to them.
When the time arises that they need
to use technology, they will be glad to
find a familiar space previously discovered in a high school classroom. These
computers, from laptops to smartwatches,
have become as natural to them as a walk
in the park. My only hope is that we will continue to embrace technology for
the benefit of academia, and help usher in a new group of young and successful citizens.
By bravely implementing the most up to date and available technologies in and
outside of the classroom, a new age of learning will truly be available to all.
