SD 60 outlines use of iPads and other technology for student development

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — During School District 60’s Committee of the Whole meeting on January 13th, the district technology department presented how it uses technology to enhance student learning. 

District Vice-Principal Laurie Petrucci and IT Manager Jayson Jopio gave the presentation.

According to the presentation, the department’s mission is to drive success in learning with the support of educational technology.

“We really try to align our goals, our strategic plan, with the board itself to drive learning,” says Petrucci.

According to the vice-principal, iPads are great teaching tools for children because they’re more advanced than other methods, such as paper and pencils. 

“For a lot of students, inclusion technology is their access to learning,” says Petrucci.

“You might make a couple of notes, but taking an iPad outside, you can capture visuals, you can capture audio, and it is very challenging to students.”

Petrucci also worked with grade 6 teachers, encouraging them to make podcasts with their students. 

“I gave them training and how to use an iPad to support the creation of podcasts, and then it was up to them on whether they wanted to take it back to their classes, and I was happy to see a lot of them did,” said Petrucci.

The department’s ongoing challenges include protecting the data and system from cyberattacks and data breaches, hardware replacement becoming more expensive, and staff turnover at school sites leading to additional time spent training and troubleshooting.

Petrucci says she has had to train more teachers than usual in technology to support learning. 

“Normally, I train three or four. This year, I had 12 teachers who had never used iPads to support learning. That was big.” Petrucci explains. 

The tech department will collaborate with district staff on an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee to consider how to use the technology to support education.

“It’s a tool for students to share their voice. What better way to upload an artifact of learning,”  said Petrucci.

The full SD 60 Committee of the Whole Agenda and tech departments presentation can be viewed below: