December 2015 | vol. 10, issue 2
The Future of The Hall’s Technology a look at the possible 1:1 program
Gabe O’Brien Reporter he future is always changing. We blink and something new has sprung up out of nowhere. The next big thing captivates everybody and we all want to be a part of it. The most diversified and evolving field in modern times is technology. Our world is run by it. And our school is accustomed to this revolutionary idea for education with the use of iPads. But recently, if you paid any attention, questions arose regarding the nature of iPads. Are they a thing of the past? And better yet, are they too distracting for students? It seems as if at least one person a day faces some sort of discipline for the misuse of an iPad. That is because with the capacity of exploration that an iPad offers, anybody can pretty much do anything. With the introduction of laptops, it would be a bit more difficult to “multi-task.” In this article, I will go deeper into the reasons for this technological inquiry and I will find out what the reception of this possible
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transformation will be. Our current technology department has put together a program in which each student receives an iPad on their first day at The Hall. The 1:1 program (1 device per student) is in place for all students grades 5-12. 1:1 programs are often found in schools these days since online behavior and academic progress can be tracked more easily. Students can access curriculum more easily, and whenever there is a new standard for the technology, all devices are updated simultaneously. The 1:1 program is having quite an effect in mainstream culture. Even a charity - One Laptop per Child (OLPC) - is set up in the hopes of spreading this force to countries around the world that don’t have as many resources for education. Personally, I am satisfied with the format for technology we have in place right now. It works well and is one we are familiar with. When I asked Max Rodriguez ‘18 what he thought about a change to our program, he stated that
he was a bit disappointed. “I feel like the iPad is easier to work on and it carries a lot of ‘weight.’” What he meant is that for something so compact, it is quite versatile. I asked Ryan Murray ‘17 if he had a response to my inquiries. He said: “I think that the laptop idea would be great. I’d get a lot more work done.” When I asked what Ben Covington ‘19 thought regarding a possible tech shift, I was surprised to find out that he is a very “tech-savvy” person. He even builds his own tech-related creations. “Thank God, that would be so much better than using an iPad.” And finally, I asked our own student
body president, Michael Tellini ‘17 for a few words. Michael said, “I feel that laptops are a better tool for homework, especially essay writing. Plus, the school assignment tracking application, Haiku, provides a much better interface on laptops than on iPads.” Earlier this fall, our entire high school community was asked to participate in a survey which gathered opinions considering our current 1:1 program. Fifty faculty members and 311 students from both schools responded to these surveys. Currently Mrs. Saltveit, Mr. Levin, Mr. Campos, Ms. Weatherwax, Ms. Garlinghouse, and Mr.
Angel Padilla | the roundtable
Lorentz are reviewing the data resulting from the student and faculty related surveys. This strenuous process may take a while, but it paves the way for a new chapter at The Hall. Mrs. Saltveit herself stated, “We wanted to collect informative data. We are analyzing information from the surveys. After looking at the results, the team is going to make a recommendation on whether to switch the program next year. After reviewing the team’s feedback, Mr. Farrell and Ms. Simpson will make the final response on the issue.”
Innovation in the Art Studio printing in a new way
Anson Gordon-Creed Reporter
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ith the Visual Art 2 class’s recent field trip to Autodesk behind us, the concept of third dimensional printing and its potential applications in the world still linger in many of our minds. 3D plastic
Angel Padilla | the roundtable
printers date all the way back to the 1980’s, but due to technological limitations, have not gained much popularity until the late 2000’s. Companies like Autodesk have designed the software necessary to create a fully three-dimensional objects layer by layer with a computer, and now every-
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thing from wrenches to toys to even fully functional firearms are being made this way. But how does this affect Stuart Hall High School? Well, let’s take a look. . . Ms. Hellstrom explained that Stuart Hall received its first 3D printer prototype as a gift from former student Xa Conrad. Since then, SHHS has acquired two new Makerbot Replicators that some of our more tech-savvy art students use to make 3-dimensional plastic sculptures depicting everything from Mickey Mouse, to bridges, buildings, and bicycles. That mechanical whirl you hear whenever you
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enter the art studio is one of the Makerbots hard at work on a new student project. That said, anyone who’s used our models can tell you they are not without their flaws. Users have claimed the plastic lining they are made of is very messy and delicate, and the machine that places it is prone to error. And as the aforementioned Mickey Mouse statue is a testament to, without proper designing software and a skilled designer to use it, the printer itself is completely useless. But don’t let that discourage you from trying. There are plenty of free 3D printing
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apps on the app store, so here’s you chance to be that skilled designer the printer needs. VA2 student, Johnny Forman ‘18, described the process as fairly easy once you get the hang of the software, and was rather proud of his finished product. Another sophomore, Ben Kaplan, designed and printed a model Golden Gate Bridge with only two tries that now stands in the art studio for all to see. Artificial organs, fully sized shelters, firearms, and tools are all just a design and a printer away now.
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