Is the Technology Play Here to Stay?

This school year Arrowhead is putting into effect a Technology plan. This plan was made by the Arrowhead tech committee of Administration, teachers, parents and students. The tech committee’s purpose for this plan is to support the educational need of every student. The school’s goal is improve student achievement, effective teachings and learning methods, support systems and leadership.

The plan will improve student achievement by personalized technology filled education. To make learning and teaching more effective, this plan will provide more The school has created moodle and google classrooms as a resources for students use to access school related information.

Some student like current senior Caitlin Engelbert believe that the technology plan is a positive addition to the school curriculum, but is concerned for the students who can’t afford to buy devices. Caitlin Engelbert has made the transformation from paper to laptop, with little trouble in doing so.

“I think the technology plan will last because people are more into computers these days. I feel like most people have a personal device. I think that maybe people will take better notes,pay better attention and do research. Theres a lot more stuff you can do now,”  says Caitlin Engelbert

Senior Mike McGarry says he believes the Arrowhead Technology plan is going to be short term.  McGarry says during his first few years at Arrowhead there were iTouches for students to use, but didn’t that last.  McGarry says his transition from paper to his personal device has been difficult due to slow internet.

“I believe that all tech that AHS introduces comes and goes like all other things. Everybody having a personal device takes up too much  internet, and is quite a hassle,” says  McGarry.

Junior Carole Desportes, says she thinks the technology plan is good and bad because all students have devices the internet is really slow and batteries die easily.

“If your computer breaks down, you can’t do your homework because it’s all online. It’s also very distracting because it’s hard to work on the computer, and pay attention to what the teacher says,” says Desportes

Mr. Albers says that he was told that students were going to be bring in personal devices and to do that best they could to accommodate that.  Though some teachers have had to make some adjustments to their teaching methods,Jim Albers and Beth Schueth  have not needed to change their teaching method. Students can easily do research in class so teachers no longer have to worry about getting lab time.

German teacher Beth Schueth says she believes students could learn more with the technology plan because students are more efficient for certain activities.

Jim Albers the environmental biology teacher, believes its too early to tell if the devices are improving student learning, but is happy with how student have been able to adapt to the plan. Albers says he has been teaching with  Powerpoint and Word for 25 years but is now trying to adapt to Moodle, and Google classroom.

“The technology plan is good and bad. We’re in a good stage right now, i think we will have to face problems. But I think devices are here to stay,” says Albers.