Field Experience Interview Reflection

On March 5, 2013, I visited the Beech Street School. The purpose of visiting the school to observe the educator how using technology and conduct the interview. I visited the school during the hours of 10.00 am to 1.30 pm and choose levels to observe second and third grade that were in the age group of 6 to 8 years.

 The Beech Street School is working to improve the technology integration by increasing the access that the teachers and the students have to technology. In order to ensure that the students are comfortable with technology, the school is focusing on increasing the teachers’ technological understanding. This is achieved by allowing the teachers access to technology; this is demonstrated by the school’s aim of providing every teacher with an iPad. Presently, the children have access to the computer lab and other learning devices which the school has. However the aim is to increase the access by allowing the children to learn through technological aids in every class room.

 Some of the tools used in the school include Reading A-Z which is a program that is designed to aid the children in their reading and improve their comprehensive ability.  Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) reading program is another tool used in the school that aims to address specific learning problems faced by the students. Reading Plus is also a tool that allows the teacher to monitor the progress of the students in real time. Socrative is another tool that is favored by the teachers because it allows the teacher to monitor the progress of the students all the while ensuring that the students are engaged in the learning activity.

 The New Hampshire state has developed a technology integration plan which set standards for the schools, teachers, and students. These standards were developed to ensure that the whole state progressed at an equal footing and that no school or county was left out of the technological development drive. While these standards have hindered the early adoption of technology by some schools, they have worked to ensure that the technological integration continues in a single direction. Without these standards, the technological integration would have been haphazard and resulted in an uneven distribution of resources within the state. The standards ensure that only the most effective technologies are integrated and the integration is in an effective manner.

 The school is working on projects aimed at improving the technological integration including the implementation of the concept of BYOD. The program is being carried out in other schools and the success of the pilot program will result in the commencement of the program in the Beech Street School. The aim is to ensure that the students are not only able to excess technology but also use it to enhance their knowledge. Given the current direction, the integration of technology can exponentially improve the learning experience and allow the children to understand more advanced and complex concepts.

 Finally, I was taken around and I noticed different classrooms for fourth grade, fifth grade, and the library.  I saw that each classroom had TV; also they use ipad, disk computer, smartboard, and projector at the library.  Many students were engaged in classroom activities in groups with the help of their teachers. It was clear that the teachers were involved and engaging students for their intellectual development. Generally the interaction between the pupils themselves was promising. The teachers were doing a great job to ensure the pupils got the best out of the programs.