"Our goal is to provide access and opportunity for every student to learn 21st century skills and to eliminate the achievement and opportunity gaps among students so that all students will become educated citizens and lifelong learners who contribute to their community and the world in which they live.
Twenty-first century skills needed by our students include proficiency in core academic subjects; learning and innovation skills; communication and technology literacy; interpersonal, life and career skills. Our goal is to provide an instructional program that will provide and support every student in learning these skills." District Mission Statement, 2019 ************************************************************************************************ I believe that the current administration is striving toward the realization of the district's mission statement. The district as a whole truly wants to eliminate the achievement gap among its diverse population of students. However, the lack of adequate funds for technology widens the gap between the financially stable schools and the low-income schools. I taught at an elementary school where the technology could best be defined as abysmal. Third and fourth generation hand-me-down Chromebooks from the middle school and iPads that could no longer be updated are the only devices available to our students. I watched as students struggled to read off of glitching screens during the CAASPP test. I was there when students unexpectedly lost access to the test because the Chromebook suddenly died midway through the CAASPP session. How does this effect student performance on standardized tests? Immensely. The test already causes frustration, anxiety and low self-esteem among our struggling students. Add technology that doesn't cooperate, you have a kid who quickly gives up. Our teachers are praying that somehow their overheating ELMOS with fading light bulbs will work for the next lesson. Teachers can't rely on the out-dated, repeated overhauled technological equipment. If we truly are a 21st Century school district that has made it a goal to eliminate the achievement gap, we need to focus on the bare bones of our organization: the materials we use to eliminate the gap. We need to invest in providing up-to-date hardware for all students. What can a small team of concerned teachers do? As Learning Innovators, we hold the data that shows the benefits of better tech tools in the classroom. We have the knowledge and skills on how to best use modern software. We set the example for innovative learning through technology in the classroom.
3 Comments
Rafael Garcia Avila
6/16/2019 01:35:05 pm
Tess,
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Caitlin Mitchell
6/19/2019 09:07:22 am
Hi Tess,
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Monica Knecht
6/19/2019 12:25:07 pm
Tess, I agree that we are definitely striving to a technological place that, as a district, we are not nearly at yet throughout the district. I do like where we are going, but we are not there yet and we have a long way to go. I know that many teachers are frustrated that some have the technology and no training in how to use it. This is such a waste in use. As is teachers that know how to use it and the school doesn't have the technology or money to support it.
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Tess Giner
This is my 25th year as a public school teacher. I've taught every grade between Kindergarten and 12th grade. I hope to encourage my students to love writing and reading as much as I do. Archives
July 2019
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