Interview with Mr. Noa Craft

Social Studies teacher, Lincoln Southeast High School

SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY SURVEY

WHAT ARE THE MAIN WAYS YOU USE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM?

• Mr. Craft has developed his own website onto which he uploads assignments, quizzes, and other documents onto.

• His students have access to his website. This reduces use of paper and allows the students to have a central place to find all of their coursework.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN WAYS YOU USE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM?

• Mr. Craft also uses Power Point presentations to supplement his lectures.

• All students have access to iPads, and many use them or bring their own tablets.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE USING TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY IN THE CLASSROOM?

• In the words of Mr. Craft….

• “The website has been huge. They can get all of their homework off of it. It’s really helpful when students miss a day of school sick, and they can still access homework at home… There are less excuses for not getting work done.”

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF TECHNOLOGY FAILING IN THE CLASSROOM?

• “The elimination of computer labs was a mistake.” – Mr. Craft

• Mobile labs replaced them

• Problems with mobile labs:• Booting up computers takes time

• Always a couple “problem computers”

• Harder to monitor the student’s use of computers

• Decreases class time by the time it is set up

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM?

• More Control

• Mr. Craft lamented how difficult it can be to keep student’s on task when they are using a computer in class.

• They will often be checking Facebook, Twitter, or another website.

• He hopes to have technology that will make it easier to control what student’s can do on the computer.

DO THE STUDENTS HAVE LAPTOPS AND TABLETS THAT THEY ARE ASSIGNED?

• No, but they can check out laptops and tablets from the mobile labs.

DO YOU THINK SMARTBOARDS ARE A GOOD IDEA IN A SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM?

• Lincoln Southeast isn’t getting smartboards in their social studies classroom.

• Instead, they are getting 70 inch HDTV’s installed soon.

Mr. Craft: “The new TV’s probably won’t change a lot for me, other than it being a better system than using the projectors.”

LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TECHNOLOGY PLAN

LPS TECHNOLOGY PLAN

• The LPS plan for using technology in the classroom can be found at:

• http://home.lps.org/it/

K-5TH GRADE LPS TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS

• Students learn basics of technology, including typing

• They also learn appropriate online behavior

• Their progress is reported on their report cards

7TH GRADE LPS TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS

• In 7th grade, LPS students learn “tools for productivity such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation applications, drawing/painting tools, as well as continued development of keyboarding skills.”

8TH GRADE LPS TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS

• In 8th grade, LPS students learn “digital video, digital audio, graphics, and web design.”

• The issues surrounding “digital citizenship” are also addressed at this time.

LPS TECHNOLOGY LEADERS

• According to the LPS Technology Plan website…..

• “Trained technicians now respond to teacher’s technical needs.”

• They are known as “Technology Leaders”

• Each elementary and middle school in LPS has a certified teacher filling the role of “Technology Leader” in addition to their duties as a classroom teacher.

• They have Three Responsibilities for LPS technology:

• Communication

• Coordination

• Coaching

TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS AND 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

• LPS follows the National Educational Technology Standards – ISTE

• The link to the LPS plan can be found here:

• http://home.lps.org/it/teaching-learning-with-technology/

SOCIAL STUDIES AND TECHNOLOGY EXAMPLE

• Psychology is one area where technology is heavily utilized

• You can read about it in my group blog:

• https://www.tumblr.com/blog/teamamericaunl259

FINAL THOUGHTS• I thought my conversation with Mr. Craft was very interesting, and I gave me a lot of ideas

for how I could more effectively use technology in the future. What I liked the most is the website that he uses. This is a really nice use of technology because the students only need a computer and internet access to take advantage of it. I hope to incorporate that into my classroom someday.

• The school’s current technology plans do not include having permanent computer labs. I agree with Mr. Craft; this could be a mistake. Having the computers all ready to go when needed is more efficient than struggling to start up the mobile lab. Perhaps, however, the mobile labs will improve.

Interview with Mr. Noa Craft

Social Studies teacher, Lincoln Southeast High School

SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY SURVEY