Board approves $45,000 for test project in middle school
By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
When Johnny goes to math class in the future, he’ll have to bring pencil, paper…and touch-screen tablet computer.
That was the scenario described Monday night to the Board of Education, which embraced an enthusiastic vibe and approved a pilot program to spend at least $45,000 for 60 iPads and applications, accessories and other equipment for two classes at the middle school, starting in January.
It was the latest leap into technology endorsed by the school board, which is increasingly broadening the concept of learning from lectures to a 24-hour experience, in the classroom and out, by using the infinite world of the internet, games and “apps,” or programmed applications.
Middle school math specialist Deborah Porowski showed the board a video and gushed about the enthusiasm of Algebra 1 seventh graders teaching themselves at home, checking their work, watching videos and playing games all the while learning about math.
”I never shied away from trying something new. I am always looking for something new,” she said. “I understood there was always something better and I am thrilled to be part of a pilot program.”
She showed a video made in her class of students using just her one personal touch pad at her desk.
On the touch screen, the pupils could squeeze their fingers to move together and “add” similar x and y components. If the numbers or letters wiggled, the answer was wrong.
She still would require students the steps to understanding the process of solving a problem, not just punching in numbers to come up with an answer, she said.
”I’m not looking for something to do the thinking for students,” she said. “I’m not looking for something to do the teaching for me. I don’t want them to do little more than hit a button.”
Middle School Principal Joseph Trybulski said the tablets would allow students to hear instruction in voice other than their teacher, to hear explanations in different terms, to answer questions without bothering the teacher and to check their work at their own pace. Students would often quickly want to move on to “what if” and experiment with more operations, he said.
The program would involve professional development for a teacher, pre- and post-surveys of pupils to determine the tablets’ effectiveness and mandates a December meeting with students and parents to issue the devices to students, and stress responsibility for negligence, repair or replacement.
Board President Steve Paget said he had experienced touch-tablet learning excitement at home in his own family, taking a dry subject and exciting a youngster to feel like “I feel like learning tonight.”
Board member Marc Rosenberg said the computer industry has moved beyond making educational software for computers and is increasingly concentrating on touch-screen devices.
Another distinguishing characteristic is their mobility, he said. They move from home to classroom to a friend’s house to study.
”It’s as much a part of them as a cell phone,” he said.
Yet, it’s not the same as laptop, he said. Touch tablets become part of someone, he said, as “a personal device for a student who become very comfortable with using it.”
Member Judy Haas said the tablets might lessen the need to buy textbooks, which last for years.
”Not that these (tablets) would ever replace a teacher, but they sure would help (him or her),” she said. “It gives them extra hands.”
The tablets wouldn’t be used for homework or tests, said Ms. Porowski. For that, it would be old-fashioned pencil and paper, she said.