Social Studies and Technology

As part of the RCSD Digital Transformation, my colleague Liza Steffen and I were asked to coordinate classroom visits and discussions between students, teachers and the Social Studies and African American studies directors with respect to the use of technology within Social Studies teaching and learning. Audra Schmitt, Director of Social Studies and Djinga St. Louis, Director of African American Studies, joined Liza and I as we met with Davin Reddington, WOIS #58 and Demetria Lawton and Charles Hall of MLK School #9.

Click here to access information from the experience!

Digital Transformation in the RCSD

The RCSD is in the early stages of "Digital Transformation." Actually, we have been deep into this transformation for at least the past five years. Up through the turn of the century, most classrooms were paper based with the ole Overhead Projector as the primary technology tool of teachers.

Approximately six years ago, I stepped out of the classroom, to support teachers and students as SMARTboards, document cameras and iPads came into use within most classrooms across the district. SMARTboards provided an interactive learning device for teachers and students to display teaching and learning. The district initially rolled out the technology in classrooms with "model classroom teachers." The hope was that these teachers would be successful and would act as leaders and turn-key technology use within their buildings. In addition to SMARTboards, teachers received teacher laptops, document cameras, Netbooks, student response systems or "clickers", training and support for all the technology. The iPads that were rolled out were part of a Kindergarten through 2nd grade initiative that provided teachers with a "technology center" for their students to use apps for learning. Lexia, Raz-Kids, and a variety of Math apps provided primary students with a tool for learning that was highly motivating.

This next wave in the RCSD Digital Transformation, I believe, is a Tsunami. Well, it's big, hopefully without the destruction of a Tsunami. The Smart Bond Act of 2014 was passed by the voters of New York. This act provides school districts across the state with funds to support with technology integration across the grade levels. The RCSD looks to begin rolling out Chromebooks, moving toward a 1:1 computing environment in grades 3-12. The technology is part of three important parts of this transformation. Technology, pedagogy and classroom management are intertwined when we speak of student success and learning. How will these three work together for teachers and students to produce a rich, high quality education for students? Stay tuned for those posts!