Re: Redefining Teaching & Learning Through Technology: Preparing Students for the Future
May 8, 2013
Dear Parents & Community Members:
At a presentation to community members on Tuesday evening, May 6, I provided more detail about the iPad initiative proposed for 8th and 9th graders next year. Click here for my PowerPoint.
I had the chance to give some examples of how the use of iPads in daily lesson plans will deepen students’ level of engagement in classroom material, foster collaboration, and promote critical thinking. Additionally, I shared with community members the District’s plan to support our teachers through professional development and the financial benefits that will result from reduction in expenditures for paper, ink and photocopying. (The Rosyln School District saved $125,000 in one year based on a two-grade deployment of iPads for instruction.)
As I’ve talked about previously, the new proposed iPad initiative builds on the success we’ve had using iPads over the past couple of years to teach the 8th grade Earth Science curriculum. We look forward to expanding this initiative to all core academic subjects – English, world languages, mathematics, science and social studies.
Over the coming days, I’ll be visiting other districts and continuing my conversations with other district superintendents who have found success harnessing the potential of technology to enhance learning. I’ll be speaking with them more thoroughly about professional development for teachers – including course content creation -- and specific challenges they’ve encountered along the way and will make sure to keep you in the loop as our preparation for next year’s initiative unfolds.
If you haven’t had a chance to do so already, I do hope you’ll visit the special section we’ve set up on our District website with related background videos/materials. I believe the integration of technology will yield some exciting changes in how we teach and how students learn in the years to come.
Regards,
Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools