IN Greensburg-Salem Summer 2014 | Page 32

Plugged into education GRE E NS BU R G SA LE M S C HOO L N E WS reensburg Salem L ook around you. Everywhere people seems to be attached to their electronics, and no one more so than high school students. Even though it may be irritating at the dinner table — at school, technology is helping learning come alive for students While at one time, students only used technology in the computer labs where they learned productivity skills, Dr. Chris Suppo, the coordinator of technology observed, “The focus of Educational Technology has changed significantly over the last several years. There will continue to be specialized courses at the secondary level for interested students; however, the core technology skills that all students must possess are much broader. The concepts of Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, and 21st Century Skills are emphasized and supported through instruction and activities that explore how technology may impact our world and how technology can be used to support learning and living. Broad topics concerning Educational Technology are best taught through curriculum integration rather than curriculum isolation to make learning relevant.” As teachers design lessons that integrate technology throughout the curriculum, students are able to be creative while developing new skills and grasping a better understanding of how things work. 30 | Greensburg-Salem Nowhere is this more evidenced than in the high school science classes where laptops and iPads are revolutionizing how students interact with information and learn. Thanks to a grant from the Alcoa Foundation and matching funds from B