From chalkboards and overhead projectors, to iPads and Apple TV, technology in the school is always changing.

“When I first got [to the high school], we had overhead projectors, one Xerox machine, and no computers or cellphones,” said Bob Knuth, history teacher who has been teaching here since 1986. “We didn’t even have a phone in every room. By around 1990 there was a computer in every room. From 2001 to 2004 the district made a big program to start increasing technology.”

New technology helps students to learn in many different ways according to research. As a result, the school has been trying to keep up with advancements in technology to provide more outlets for learning.

“We went from overhead projectors to document cameras to owning a smart board and iPads, but our definitive goal is to have iPads for all students and teachers grades 6 through 12,” Emily Coklan, Instructional Technologist, said. “Technology is worth learning even though it [is] always changing, it [is] an ongoing learning process.”

Knuth pointed out that, however, teachers have to learn how to operate the devices before they can teach with them, Coklan explained that even though the technology is always changing, it is worth learning.

“Being able to access the Web with any device allows teachers to structure lessons that require more critical thinking by students,” Alice Schmitz, instructional technologist, said.

The future of technology in our building has yet to be decided. The only goal thus far is to finish the iPads.

“[In the 1990’s] the up and coming thing was computers,” Knuth said. “Now when I think of the next thing in technology, I think of virtual classrooms and everything done in the cloud.”

Although there has been no additional talk about this, the idea of virtual classrooms may be possible in the future.
“Technology is a two-edged sword,” Knuth said. “On one hand it’s like, ‘This is great! Think of how cool this is!’ But on the other hand, we have to learn how to use [and control] it.”