The Fabulous Foo Foo Morphologies

Ted Wilson, Principal and Technology Extraordinaire

Interview with Mr. Ted Wilson, Principal, Glacier Valley Elementary:

What kind of educational software programs are available for teachers to use?

            The laptops and most desktop computers are equipped with programs such as KidSpiration, Comic Life, Office Suite, iWorks, Garage Band, Google Earth, Accelerated Reader, Power School, e-mail program, Safari, and a program to record PALS data.  The desktop computers in one of our rooms are equipped with All the Right Type keyboarding program. 

What led you to be so proactive in integrating technology use in our school?

            When I was a freshman in high school (~1981) our school received a grant to be immersed in new technology that was available at the time.  This allowed me to experience how beneficial technology integration can be to one’s educational experience.  It gives teachers more instructional options.  When I arrived at Glacier Valley in 1997, there was some technology already available and shortly after I arrived here we had the opportunity to purchase more technology tools for our school so I got to be influential in deciding what would be beneficial for us to purchase.  I wanted wireless internet, the newest computers and laptops available and video and audio software.  Having a wireless system allows us to do things such as have off-site meetings.  Technology should be central in a school setting and making current technology available for students in school is important because it is a big draw for them.  Even with all of the technology we have, we are behind yet because of the new iPads, tablets, etc. available.  We do have four iPads being used in our special education department but they are not yet supported by the district so we are pioneering the idea in a sense. 

How were you able to obtain the technology tools that are now available in our school?

            In 1997 a bond issue was passed that allowed us to start purchasing some new technology tools.  Another bond issue was passed that allowed us to finish the purchases that we had already started.  A few years later the legislature approved money for us to use for more purchases.  Our school was then renovated which provided even more technology funds.  However, we do not yet know what our new sources of technology funds will be, we are still working on that.  Geoffrey Wyatt has written some smaller technology grants before and Laurie Heagy has experience writing grants for other things.

Why is technology important in a school setting?

            It involves the same idea as hooking kids up with outdoor education, art, drama, etc.  There are things that can be outside and/or integrated into the curriculum that hooks the interest of our students in what we are teaching.  Technology also allows us to extend the learning of those students that need it.  For example, when I was teaching, if students finished up a writing project early I would have them make a video or other kind of presentation to publish their work.

What has the students’ response been to technology integration in school?

            The students seem very comfortable with it.  Many Kindergarten students taking the MAPs tests are experiencing computers for the first time.  I have found that they can handle the track pad on a lap top much easier than a mouse for a desktop computer.  It seems that students are more open to integrating new forms of technology into their lives when they have been exposed to it at an early age.

What is your favorite technology tool to use?

            Probably the digital cameras because they give you almost instant results.  For example, you can take pictures in an activity you are doing with the students in the morning, print them out at lunch or on your prep, and have them available to use for an afternoon activity.  This allows for very engaging lessons and gives students first-hand experience with technology tools.

Glacier Valley's Slew of Wonderful Technology Tools

Glacier Valley Elementary Technology Inventory

We have a wide array of technology tools available to us at Glacier Valley Elementary.  Available to every classroom are three carts with 24-30 Apple laptops each; ELMO devices; widescreen TVs that can project information from various sources such as a computer or ELMO and are equipped with cable; speaker systems with a microphone for the teacher to use, electronic science tools such as a USB probe scope; the library has a flip camera, wireless microphones, and a digital still camera that anyone can check out.  Although the electronic science tools are available for anyone to check out, there has been little training to staff on their use as yet.

            There are Alpha Smart typing devices for students in 3-5 grades to use; Geoffrey has wireless Neo devices; the library has a smart board with a laptop attached to it; our gymnasium is equipped with a full audio system; the commons and gym have large projection screens equipped with an internet connection.

The Importance of Adopting A "School-of-One" Way of Thinking

What do you think of the concept of a “school-of-one” and Kahn Academies? How will this approach to technology shape the classroom of the future?

Before exploring the Kahn Academies website, listening to Salman Kahn’s TED talk, and listening to the Freakenomics “How Is a Bad Radio Station Like the Public School System” podcast, I believed that the “school-of-one” concept was the best theoretical approach to enhance the learning of the students in our classrooms today and into the future.  I thought of it as a “theoretical” approach because it is a tall order for a single teacher to be expected to meet the individualized educational needs of each student with such large class sizes and without outside help.  However, the individualized on-line tutoring program offered by Kahn Academies gives educators access to unlimited outside help for the benefit of their students.

The first statement on the “About” page of the Kahn Academies website is “A free world-class education for anyone anywhere.”  After spending some time surfing the website and watching Salman Kahn’s TED talk, this statement did not seem nearly as simple and generic as it did at first.  The goal of Salman Kahn and Kahn Academies is to give each and every potential learner access to an individualized learning plan.  After watching Kahn’s TED talk, my mind was brimming with ideas about how useful of a tool this site could be in the classroom.  However, at the same time I felt anxieties about how I could successfully implement this program in my classroom.  There would need to be extensive assessments done with each student in each subject to determine what areas they need tutoring in and how extensive the tutoring needs to be.  This could be as difficult as trying to differentiate instruction for each student in my classroom.  I think that with some practice, the on-line tutoring service offered by Kahn Academies could be a very effective classroom tool.

The Freakenomics podcast “How Is a Bad Radio Station Like the Public School System?” made the importance of adopting a “school-of-one” approach even clearer.  I had never thought of comparing the public school system to a generic radio station that simply plays the music they assume everyone will like but, unfortunately, it seems as if many school systems are falling into this black hole.  These public school systems are probably weary of the “school-of-one” concept because it requires that they completely change their views to be more student-centered.  However, from what I learned in this podcast, converting to a “school-of-one” way of thinking will benefit students as well as educators in the long run.  Students will learn how to become more responsible and engaged in their own learning processes.  Educators will learn how they can increase the educational success of their class as a whole by increasing the educational success and efficacy of each individual student. 

As a new educator to the public school system, my goal will be to learn how to use as many effective tools as possible to help reach the individual educational needs of my students to help them become more engaged learners.  Educational technology advances, such as the services offered by Kahn Academies, have the potential to completely re-shape the classrooms of the future for the better.

I finally figured it out!!!