Dive Brief:
- Royce Avery, superintendent of Texas' Manor Independent School District, says his schools aim to do more than give each child a device, instead striving for true equity by going beyond access to technology.
- Avery writes for eSchool News that his district is investigating options — like community partnerships or purchasing mobile hotspots for library checkout — that ensure kids have internet access at home so they don’t have to choose between extracurricular activities or use of school computers during business hours.
- To get all kids high-quality content for their devices, Manor ISD uses myON so students can access age-appropriate books from anywhere at any time, and teachers in the district try to leverage the tech by trying new instructional techniques like project-based learning or seeking out digital mentorship opportunities for students.
Dive Insight:
The White House ConnectED initiative has inspired companies including Apple and Sprint to commit to outfitting classrooms across the country with digital devices, but the devices themselves are only a piece of the puzzle. Moving to a 21st century learning environment doesn’t just mean having technology in students’ hands. It means preparing students with 21st century skills and using technology to do so more efficiently and effectively.
The best schools and districts are being strategic about identifying instructional goals and then choosing technology that can help reach them. This type of early planning must be followed by teacher professional development so technology can be embedded in high-quality instructional practices. Without this step, technology can become a distraction from improving teaching and learning.
