The Importance of Working With (Not Through) Technology
Technology has given the world so many opportunities to help ease our daily burdens and make once thought hard tasks doable with less effort. However, as technology continues to evolve, how does education keep up with the changing landscape and prepare students for the future?
Here we speak with Dr. Michael Nagler, Superintendent of Minneola USFD in New York, about his work in adopting technology early on, the importance of maintaining creative thinking skills to prepare students for the future, and how keeping open lines of communication has enabled students and teachers to have an input in the growth of their educational practices.
Nagler was recently recognized as Most Innovative Superintendent at a Tech & Learning Regional Leadership Summit with an Innovative Leader Award.
Adopting Technology Early
New forms of technology crop up almost on a daily basis, and many schools and districts make decisions on what hardware and software to add to their environment everyday. Nagler notes how early adoption primed his district to become known as a tech district and synonymous with innovation.
“More than 10 years ago, when the iPad came out, we embraced it,” says Nagler. “We had a pilot with a group of fifth graders the first year. Within two years, we were one-to-one. The entire district. And we’ve been known as a tech district based on that.”
Under Nagler, Mineola was one of the first school districts in New York to implement a comprehensive computer science curriculum starting in kindergarten, and he continues to encourage his schools to embrace technology in a thoughtful manner. “We do a ton of innovation,” he says. “But it’s a misnomer that we’ve centered around technology as the answer, whereas I think we use tech appropriately as a tool to try to push changes in teaching and learning.”
How has technology changed the educational approach?
“Direct instruction is a vestige of a long ago time,” Nagler says. “We need to engage kids a lot differently. If we use technology to help them be creative in how they do their work and explain what they know as an assessment form, the better we’re positioning kids for the next wave. AI is coming, and I think the more creative things we ask kids to do, the more we don’t have to worry about AI doing all the work.”
It can be easy to offload all of our processes onto AI programs that are created to handle these. However, it is important to note that the skills students will need in their professional lives are still relevant to be taught. Technology is important, but it cannot replace the human element.
Embracing Technology, Finding Balance
New innovations in education can help achieve a lot, but it can also provide too many options for students and teachers. Nagler says sticking with one form of technology for the district can help to keep students involved in the innovation process.
“We were very purposeful with the iPad,” Nagler says. “I think it’s a device you can use to create. If it’s not web-based, you’re not really doing much. That’s why we’re Apple Distinguished. There’s only 18 districts that earn that recognition. And the reason we leverage Apple products is because we want kids to create.”
But how do we keep kids in the spirit of learning even after leaving an educational environment? Nagler says maintaining a level of flexibility within the district is key to adapt to changes and obstacles along the way.
Nagler also embraces a driven sense of inclusion for teachers when it comes to making innovative advances within the school and the district. Having adequate input from educators can help to create an inclusive and understanding educational environment, even if it doesn’t make everyone completely happy.
“Everybody complains about something,” Nagler says. “That’s the nature of humans.”
How to Keep Your Technology Growth in Check
Dealing with issues stemming from technology in a school can create chaos without having a clear cut approach for obstacles, says Nagler. Not allowing technology to take over is also fundamental in providing a leveled educational experience. In addition, fostering the creativity in students through technology helps them stay ready for a future in technology. And, as Nagler adds, teacher inclusion is key.
“My philosophy is, it’s got to be teacher-driven,” Nagler says. “You have to pitch an idea that teachers can embrace and give them the ability to change it, to make it work for them. Teachers spend years studying to ply their craft, and we need to let them do that.”
