COVER STORY: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION By Mr. Kenneth Frank, KMHS English and Computer Teacher

THElast year has seen tremendous activity among the faculty and student body at Kellenberg as we prepared for and implemented a 1:1 iPad program with the freshman class. While the excitement and opportunities afforded by this new technology have been inspiring, adapting a time-tested curriculum to new methods can be challenging. A er surveying the field of options, we as a faculty decided to forgo both conventional printed textbooks and publishers’ new attempts at educational ebooks in favor of creating our own course materials for our freshman classes. This past September, when the Class of 2018 began their studies at KMHS, they did so with these brand new digital texts written by our faculty. Though it was a demanding workload that required the coordinated efforts of all teachers, we are proud of our successes in transitioning to the new classroom technology.

Kellenberg was uniquely positioned to take on the task of authoring its own course materials. Since we are not limited by the New York State Regents’ Exams or Common Core State Standards, we were free to choose exactly the content and methods we thought most effective for our learning environment. In looking over our options from major publishing companies, the consistent theme across all disciplines was the editorial decision to cater books and learning materials to these state and nationwide initiatives. Simply put, they were not written for us, and we felt that we could rise to the challenge ourselves. This decision was not entered into lightly. As any student who has lugged a bulging freshman backpack through the halls will tell you, coordinating the sheer bulk of information presented in textbooks and all other manner of learning materials (in a matter of months) would be a daunting task.

With typical enthusiasm, the faculty rose to the challenge with the aid of impressive 21st century tools. Making great use of

BELOW: MR. JOSEPH BEYROUTY ’92 teaching his juniors British literature with the help of the iPad.

Members of the Class of 2018 were introduced to the new technology during AAA; with the help of faculty and staff, the students were able to adapt quite easily to this pedagogical innovation.

Creative Commons media, Open Educational Resources (or, OERs as they are known in the educational technology field), and public domain work, the faculty curated the best available content for their teaching. Then, drawing on their experience and personal expertise, they were able to harness the best features of our new technology to deliver instruction that is more timely, more personal, and more engaging to our students. Instead of a static map in a history textbook, students can zoom directly into the Pyramids of Giza and see them at street level. When reading the poetry of Robert Frost, the poet’s voice can accompany the experience. The key elements of a day’s math lesson can be viewed again while the student completes his homework assignment by watching a video embedded in the digital textbook. Indeed, we have extended the class experience to beyond the four walls of an individual room.

While this flurry of creative activity was happening, another equally important step in our growth was also occurring. The I.T. staff, in conjunction with independent consultants and learning organizations, provided comprehensive professional development to increase faculty comfort and understanding of the iPad as a teaching and learning device. Teachers learned the so ware and teaching practices to best support their newly created materials.

As this redefinition of the Kellenberg learning environment has taken place, it is important to note that the content and the message of our teaching has remained constant. We continue to teach a classical curriculum rooted in and informed by the Catholic faith. Now, we are extending the reach of that teaching through new means. In fact, we have taken as this year’s motto the axiom, “New times demand new methods.” The character and personality of the Kellenberg education remains the same and is, in fact, strengthened by this transition to the use of our own educational materials.

In support of this endeavor, as the sophomore teachers build their materials for next year, a new piece of technology, entirely unique to Kellenberg, has surfaced. It is known, in very exclusive circles, as the “Buckley widget.” As a student reads through the new digital text for European History, he will be greeted by the image of this great Kellenberg treasure. When the student taps on the image, Mr. Buckley will explain, in his own words, some key facet of that particular history lesson. Those who know and remember Mr. Buckley well might find it suitably ironic that he will teach on, in perpetuity perhaps, through a piece of HTML.

However, it is this very juxtaposition of the classical and the modern, the timeless and the contemporary, that we hope to show the students of KMHS. We continue to work tirelessly to create an inspiring learning environment for our students and hope for further success in our technological initiative. ❖