“We’re close to a one to one ratio of computers and electronic devices to students,” Joseph City School District Superintendent Brian Fields said.
The district has been focusing heavily on using technology in and out of the classroom to improve learning opportunities for students. Devices such as iPads and Chromebooks have been distributed to classrooms, and many new desktop computers have been added as well.
“We’ve introduced them across the district, from kindergarten to our most advanced dual enrollment physics class,” Fields remarked.
The tablets and other devices allow teachers and students to use special applications, or “apps,” to complete lessons and provide supplemental learning opportunities. For example, a special Spanish language app is available to students both at school and on their devices at home for practice and homework. Custom apps allow teachers to upload entire lessons, which students can then access from nearly anywhere.
“If they miss class, whether for illness or for sports, students can access the app and get their entire lesson online,” he said.
It is also useful if teachers are out, since previously prepared lessons can be accessed on a smart device by the substitute teacher, who can then teach the lesson created by the regular teacher.
To assist students in keeping up with the new technology, Fields explained that additional keyboarding, or typing, classes have been added at the lower grade levels.
“Part of the reason for that is the new Arizona merit assessment,” he said. “Our district has elected to go to computer-based testing. The students will all be assessed on the computer, so we want to make sure we improve their keyboarding skills and make them familiar with the interface.”
He noted that other basic keyboarding skills such as highlighting text, and drag and drop functions are being taught at the grade school level so that students at all levels will be prepared for digital testing.
A new bus will also support the district’s technology efforts. Fields explained that the bus will be outfitted with USB ports next to the seats so that students can charge their devices on the way to and from school. Wireless Internet access on the bus is not part of the current plan, but may be part of future upgrades.
“One of our big capital expenses this year is the new bus,” Fields explained.
Besides technology, Fields noted that the district will be focused on improving service to students. Juniors and seniors will be offered an opportunity to take the ACT test at no cost, with the district footing the bill. An additional teacher has been hired for the sixth grade class due to an increase in enrollment since the start of the year. The district also plans to expand the flexbooks program, which allows teachers to create their own textbooks and then either use a digital version or print it at a low cost. According to Fields, the sixth through eighth grade classes are currently using the flexbooks, and over the summer he hopes to set up the language arts classes to use the system.
“It’s a digital textbook that’s free to create, and to publish it is a nominal cost,” he said.
