SPECIAL SECTION:
safety concerns across the country. Teachers, administrators,
families, and community groups are putting a critical focus
on social-emotional learning activities to facilitate a better
look into dealing with anger management, conflict resolution,
empathy, and other important life skills. School is often the
only place where social and emotional learning deficiencies
can be addressed; therefore teaching students these invaluable
life skills ultimately prepares them to become active members
of society. This is another pivotal point in a teacher’s role in the
classroom.
Teachers continue to play an integral role in the lives of
students, one that cannot be replaced with even the most
advanced type of technology. This isn’t to say that the way
we taught even 15 years ago is suitable. Teachers’ roles are
continually changing, and their need to adapt is critical to
students’ success. School administrators must also support and
train educators with the tools and techniques they are being
given to ensure successful integration in the classroom.
Secondary Education
It was recently reported that teenagers spend nine hours
a day with technology. Whether in the form of social media,
listening to music, playing games, or texting with friends,
technology plays an integral role in their lives. Educators have
taken note and are now reaching teenagers where they are
spending a majority of their time. Digital tools are providing
teachers with the opportunity to incorporate personalized
learning to students in a way that benefits them. For
example, AI is being used to allow for greater individualized
and differentiated learning to be conducted by teachers.
Applications that provide learning and testing for students can
identify opportunities for them to excel, flag potential gaps in
understanding, and provide feedback on learning progress.
One exciting feature that will dramatically enhance
technology capabilities in the classroom is the integration
of 5G technology. Predicted to be ubiquitous by 2020, 5G
technology allows for data speeds almost 1,000 percent faster
than 4G, empowering educators with the ability to provide
a seamless platform for limitless learning. 5G
will allow for applications to run without fail
or interruption, download speeds to increase
dramatically, and a significantly greater number
of devices to be able to connect without delays.
Just another exciting way technology is expected
to enhance learning.
EDUCATION
parents, the answer to any question is, and almost always
was, just a click away. These parents are aware of the benefits
of early childhood learning and of the plethora of options
available to them. In addition, shifting demographic patterns,
with an increase in two working parents and single-parent
households, are calling for affordable options for child care.
As the importance and positive impact that early
childhood education has on toddlers is realized, the demand
for early education options continues to increase and expand
offerings. A few key focus areas have been identified as
important initiatives that will shape the young minds of the
future, including early literacy, technology in the classroom,
and emotional, cognitive, social early learning (ECSEL).
Early literacy teaches children letter recognition, word
sounds, vocabulary, and awareness of storytelling. Each of
these key fundamental elements helps lay the groundwork
for success in reading in the future. Early literacy programs
can also be found at local libraries as a way for parents
to engage their children even if they are not enrolled in a
preschool program.
Technology is something our children must learn
and understand to succeed today. But it is important for
technology in the classroom to be used properly and
not abused. Early childhood educators are combining
technologies with other types of play and hands-on activities
to get the most out of the tools available to them. Such tools
allow for young learners to work cooperatively on learning
activities with the use of technology to enhance their
lessons.
ECSEL focuses on teaching children how to understand
and manage emotions to become more confident, resilient,
and understanding, which are all critical to the success of
a young learner. Laying the foundation to build an early
understanding of feelings and emotions allows children
to better recognize emotions in others and how to cope
with them. These valuable life skills add a tremendous
amount of value to a young child’s understanding of healthy
relationships with his/her peers. ■
Early Education
The next generation is starting to have
children. This generation grew up in the 1980s
and early 1990s, when televisions were “old
news” and computers were just starting to creep
into people’s homes. Gen Yers, as they’ve been
named, can still vividly remember the sound of
the dial-up tone as they anticipated the number
of emails that would rush into their inbox once
the modem finally connected. For these new
GREENSBURG SALEM
❘
FALL 2019
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