Digital Learning Multiplies In Wawasee Schools
SYRACUSE — Second-graders in Julie Hays’ class at Syracuse Elementary School gathered on the floor with iPads in hand. They were about to try to solve math problems on the Kahoot website, a game based learning platform.
In another classroom in the same building, fifth-graders in Roger Brady’s class were also attempting to solve math problems. Only they were using their Chromebooks that flip and can function as a tablet or a device with a keyboard.
Digital learning has taken a big step within classrooms in the Wawasee Community School Corporation. Only a few months ago, a limited number of students had computers but now everyone does, as well as teachers. Grades kindergarten through third have iPads, four and five have Chromebooks and six through 12 have Chromebooks with touch screens.
Months of planning, discussing, testing various devices and contacting other school corporations where students have devices is now a reality. And there was a significant financial investment for the devices, as well as upgrading infrastructure in each school building. Wireless access points were installed, internet filters added and more.
Officially, it is known as the 1:1 initiative. Wawasee joins other nearby school districts with something similar in place including Whitko, Warsaw and Plymouth.
In Hays’ classroom, the students were excited because they could see almost immediately if they had the right answer as the website tracked responses. And Hays could see quickly who had not answered correctly or may have had trouble logging in.
Having a device for every student has opened doors. “Last year, we had seven (devices) to share,” Hays said. “Now everybody can participate. We can do a lot more with them than before.”
In Brady’s classroom, he has had to make a transition, but one occurring the last few years as more technology is incorporated into classrooms. “For six years I taught and never saw a computer,” he said. “Especially the last three to four years, it has been a real game changer.”
Brady noted he spent a lot of time planning this summer how he was going to incorporate the devices into his teaching. But, he said, “it (the initiative) is the right thing to do. There may be no paper or pencils at all in classrooms 10 years from now. The world is globally connected now. We aren’t just an isolated small school anymore.”
Younger teachers who tend to be more comfortable with technology have made the transition easier, he said. “There is always someone there to help,” he said.
Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum for the Wawasee school district, said there have been glitches due to some internet filters not working properly, but she has already heard positive comments from some parents about the devices. They appreciate being able to access some of the programs used in teaching so they can see what their students are doing during the day.
Google is being used extensively, such as with Google Classroom where teachers can set up their classrooms and give assignments and then the students can turn in their assignments.
This is a transition time for teachers but during the summer classes and seminars were offered, technology coaches are available to help and videos and other online resources can be used too.
Goshert stressed the devices won’t be used 100 percent of the time in classrooms. “We are using a blended learning approach,” she said. “Students still need to learn to write and pick up books.”