Photo credit: Cindi Chamberlain[/caption]The 2014 Techno Expo, held March 20 at C.W. Stanford Middle School, taught parents about current and future technologies used in Orange County schools. Teachers, staff members, and administrators presented technology to parents. According to Angie Veitch, the OCS director of media and technology, the purpose of the event was to “help parents become familiar… with programs we’re using in different fields.”
Some of the technologies being presented were Moodle, Discovery Education, PowerSchool, and Khan Academy. OHS staff members Shea Mustian and Tina Walker gave presentations, along with science teacher Becky Smith. Smith said the event was important because “older adults don’t know as much about computers” and they “didn’t grow up with [technology].” She also added that “things change a lot” over time. She presented about Discovery Education.
Veitch said that she hoped the expo would “help parents get [their] feet wet” and learn “what the digital age lets us do” and “where they can get information.” Even though “technology’s expensive, everyone’s online,” she remarked. The use of technology has increased in schools as the One-to-One laptop program has expanded into elementary schools. Students now have access to laptops starting in third grade.
Ryan Miller, the instructional technology coordinator for OCS, said new technology being introduced in schools is an “extended learning component” for students. “If [someone’s] son or daughter comes home” and needs help with their homework, “they can access resources on Khan Academy,” he stated. He said that technology provides “tons of great resources” and “learning management systems.”
Celeste Mauriello, wife of OHS teacher Nicholas Mauriello and a math interventionist at Central Elementary School, hosted a session about a new program called Dreambox, which she described as an “adaptive math program” that allows students to “work at their own pace.” Schools are “trying it out” and may decide to use it next year.
Two Chromecast devices were given away to attendees as door prizes. The Chromecast is a Google product that streams online media to HDTVs.
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