Q:
One of Keystone’s educational objectives is to
teach students how to successfully navigate the
changing technological landscape. In order to achieve
this goal, Keystone should make sure that its teachers
and students are ahead of the technology curve. How
are Keystone’s facilities, hardware and software, planned
and designed to ensure that this educational objective is
reached?
A:
Dong Ai: We describe our infrastructure design as simple,
reliable and engaging. We understand that the end-user will
only be willing to try, and use, the technology if it is simple. So in
order to realize the true value of our technologies, we must ensure
their simplicity on the front end. On the back end, we will not only
emphasize information safety and the connection between online
and offline networks, but we will make sure that the back end
technologies are accessible at all times – many times the accessibility
of these technologies is compromised because of the concern with
information safety. Moreover, sometimes teachers and students will
need to move from one location to another, but because the IT is not
flexible it is unable to allow for this move and therefore negatively
affects the learning process. We will not allow this to happen. Finally,
our infrastructure design will be engaging because we understand
that students and teachers will only use something that is engaging.
In addition to providing these simple, reliable and engaging
technologies, we will work to make sure that the end-users know how
to use these technologies. Traditionally, people call our department
and staff the Information Technology department. However, it is a
priority of mine that others come to know our department and staff
as Technology Integrators (TI), who act as information technology
education consultants. Our staff will be responsible for integrating
our innovative technologies to support teaching and learning, first
and foremost.
Sean: Since we are building Keystone from the ground up, we
have a unique opportunity to ensure that we have the ability to
support technology, education and growth from the beginning. This
autonomy is phenomenal because it gives us the liberty to not only
think about what will happen next year, but what will happen 10 or 15
years down the road.
Beyond this, we will be early adapters in China to source, research, filter
and implement the newest technologies. To show our commitment
to our teachers, we will have a training classroom for adults where
they can ask questions about, test, and learn implementation
techniques. TI staff will also work closely with teachers to collect and
understand the feedback they have from using the technologies.
This type of communication should narrow the gap between and
promote the development of education and technology at Keystone.
“It is a priority that others come
to know our department and staff
as Technology Integrators (TI),
who act as information technology
education consultants.”
Q:
Students have the option to board in grades 7
and 8. Starting in grade 9, students are required
to board. How will technology be used in the residential
program? How will Keystone cultivate a student’s sense
of responsibility to ensure the proper awareness and
usage of the internet?
A:
Dong Ai: In addition to time that boarder’s spend in class,
the after-school activities that they participate in at night will
also include the use of technologies such as iPads, laptops, video
cameras, etc. When a student returns to the dorm, for example, they
might receive a notification that it is their classmate’s birthday and
they are planning a birthday party that will start at 7 pm. How does
this happen? Our wireless network can provide us access points to
know a particular student’s location, and based on that student’s
location provide them with fixed information. No matter what the
program or activity is, all students can be informed in this way.
Information about daily food menus, the school’s calendar, and
homework can all be obtained through a cell phone or computer by
simply scanning a bar code. We are also now considering integrating
the use of motion sensor technologies. So we hope to virtualize
many areas of the student’s boarding life.
Sean: Students will have internet access so that they can complete
their homework and check email, among other tasks. Teachers who
are on duty will support and monitor students to ensure proper
usage of the technologies available. National and school policies will
delineate what students can and cannot do with the technologies
available to them. The expectation for teachers is that they not only
know these policies, but are adept at communicating these policies
and the ramifications of breaking them to students. We understand
that students will try to cross the line, but we will endeavor to help
them understand the fact that actions have consequences – some of
which may actually be adverse to their own personal interests.
In addition, dorm team members will be responsible for compiling
a running log of what happens each night so that everyone knows
what is going on with the students. If I am on duty on Tuesday night,
for example, I will already know, from reading the logs, that Student
A had a difficult time on Monday, and therefore be better prepared to
work with that respective student.
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