Technology usage at GSB has never been more widespread, varied and exciting. Across divisions and disciplines, teachers and students depend on technological resources to learn. And technology - software and hardware - continues to play a key role in helping all of us to be more productive and efficient.
During the past year:
- We have significantly upgraded the school’s network bandwidth to facilitate faster, more stable Internet connections.
- We have deployed a new server appliance (KASE) to expedite the management of all network devices.
- We have gained a staff member, Eileen P., who is overseeing our database and related systems.
- Over a dozen iPads have been distributed to administrators and key faculty users to evaluate the potential for tablet integration into classroom learning.
- School wide technology-based professional development has been offered through participation in the fall, 2010 NJAIS conference and through an in-house program featuring Will Richardson. Additionally, a number of GSB staff-led workshops helped all employees towards improved technological literacy.
- Plans are in place for GSB to house a nationally recognized professional development program, Summercore, in June, 2011.
- One group of teachers experimented with open-source assessments, encouraging students to use online resources as part of assessment tools.
- The school has deployed a weather station and joined a worldwide network. A link to the GSB campus weather and information about hundreds of other similar installations is available through KnightSite.
- In this last year, Skyped video conferencing has become a way to bring the world into our classroom.
- A number of GSB adults and students, even first graders, blog.
- Parents now schedule their teacher conferences via a dedicated web site.
- The school’s student online publication (The Voice) has evolved with a new web-hosting service.
- The college guidance department utilizes a web-based system (Naviance) to house all relevant college guidance data.
SMARTBoards, document cameras, Prezi presentations, online forums and student laptops have become as routine as note taking, oral reports and multiple choice tests were a generation ago. In short, with regards to technology, there are many new and diverse initiatives underway in all divisions.
When I started this Blog in the fall of 2010, my intention was to use this space as a place to keep the GSB community updated about technology use at GSB. My intention was to write once or twice a month, and be sure to offer a K-12 perspective. Hopefully, I've been able to do that.
Before signing off for this academic year, I'd like to offer thanks to a number of people who have significantly contributed to technology use at GSB.
Jill Fedon, Carrie Petkiewich and Irv Taylor, our technology teachers.
Eileen Procaccino, Larry Sudara and Ryan Roque, our Technology Department staff.
Eileen, Larry, Jill and also, Bill Diamond and Joanna Hayes, our technology workshop instructors.
Sid Rowell, Steve Graham, Board members, parents and others who offer financial support and enthusiasm for our technology work at GSB.
And finally, all our GSB technology users. Some are enthusiasts, and others are more reluctant, but for all, there is a spirit of adventure that continues to push us into new, exciting areas of learning.
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| From top left, clockwise: Eileen and Nancy discuss MS Outlook; Jill at home with her SMARTBoard, Larry gearing up for a PowerPoint workshop and Joanna explaining Prezi presentation software. Center: Bill (and Bill) with an iPad. |
And finally, all our GSB technology users. Some are enthusiasts, and others are more reluctant, but for all, there is a spirit of adventure that continues to push us into new, exciting areas of learning.
