You may have heard about how the Jefferson City Public School District is going to great lengths to make sure students have access to electronic devices and the Internet as a way of enhancing their learning.
Specifically, at the Simonsen 9th grade building and at Jefferson City High School, all freshmen and sophomore students will be assigned their own iPad for use in each class. Eventually, every student from grades 9-12 will be carrying an iPad as a part of their everyday school experience.
In addition, every JCPS teacher has an iPad to assist in creating meaningful student learning opportunities.
The transition, however, is not without difficulties.
Sometimes the Internet service fails. Sometimes students bring a level of immaturity to what they do and need to be taught how to appropriately use electronic devices. There is also a challenge for all teachers to learn how to best utilize technology to maximize student learning.
But regardless of any pitfalls, bringing technology in to our students' lives at school is the only way to go.
The technology already exists in every other aspect of their lives.
It's also becoming the norm in other school districts nationwide and in the business world everywhere.
The May 8 issue of USA Today had an entire page devoted to how businesses can make the best of what they described as an electronic "cloud-based world."
The article told of how businesses should use online tools to manage their finances, to advertise, to accept payment from customers, and to communicate and collaborate with clients and with other businesses.
On May 31 the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported how an iPad initiative for students in the St. Paul School District brought about an increased level of interest among students and improvement in reading levels.
On the same day the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, Georgia, reported how the Georgia Classroom Act of 2015 will eventually require an electronic device for each student so that each will have access to electronic information. It also told of how the trend is to phase out textbooks in favor of electronic devices.
On June 1 the Associated Press reported that the Bismarck School District in Bismarck, North Dakota is purchasing Chromebooks for students in its 17 elementary schools. The school district leadership said such decisions have to be made because "technology has become such an integral part of school learning."
So in Jefferson City, when we make sure all students have a regular connection with the digital world, we aren't entertaining a far-fetched idea. In fact, the day has come where schools must utilize some of the latest technology, or students won't be keeping up with the rest of America or the world.
David Wilson, EdD, is the associate principal at Jefferson City High School. You may email him at [email protected].