North Allegheny parents discuss technology initiative

Two parents gave conflicting views on North Allegheny’s proposed one-to-one technology initiative at the school board’s April 15 work session.

A 28-member advisory committee of parents, staff and school board members studied the technology available in the district and visited school systems that have one-to-one initiatives.

Last month, the committee recommended the district provide laptops to high school students and iPads to fifth-graders next year, followed by iPads for firstthrough fourth-graders the following year.

“What works for others does not necessarily work for us,” said Himani Jain. “We surely want to be the district to emulate, but it seems that we are following” other school districts with one-to-one initiatives.

Mrs. Jain suggested that the district should introduce technology over a longer period of time in “small pilot programs.”

She questioned how students in each grade would use technology daily, and what curriculum would be installed on the device.

Although she said she believes that all students need easy access to computers, “elementary students do not need a one-to-one device everyday.”

Allyson Minton told board members she agreed with Mrs. Jain — until she was on the advisory committee.

“I received an education that I did not know that I was missing. My entire perception of technology in children’s lives was wrong,” she said.

Mrs. Minton said technology can help in a classroom with 20 or 30 students at different levels of skill.

“The classroom has looked the same for so long that we have all forgotten that it can change,” she said.

She said teaching children to master technology as a “creator” will be a key to their future success.

“Technology can be a toy, yes, but it can be one of the most powerful tools we can teach them to use,” she said. “A one-to-one program no longer confuses me. It excites me beyond words. ... ”