(7) "Digital Conversion" in Schools Makes Major Headway

This article was a very interesting take on how the new advances in technology have shifted toward hybrid schooling as a priority as opposed to one on one, face to face centered instruction. Is a "digital conversion" really necessary from such young ages to prepare them for the workforce that is out there?  According to how this school district has progressed since its digital conversion, how could it really hurt?

After reading this article, I was intrigued to see how the "digital conversion" that the Mooresville School District in North Carolina has underwent has changed their school in so many ways in such a short time.  In roughly four years since it's inception, the conversion has boosted so many areas and continues to change incredibly.  Such areas as it's annual yearly progress as compared to other schools, it's graduation rates, it's proficiency in subject and content scores, it's aimed learning objectives, etc.  By adapting to this new technology incorporation, this school has remarkably reformatted it's own educational values by not purchasing certain textbooks because the 6,000+ laptops distributed have taken their place and eliminated printing costs immensely as well.  This "conversion" has encouraged teachers to use technology more frequently and more liberally within their lessons by finding content to incorporate that is either web-based or otherwise technology-vested to help better analyze learning objectives for students.

After watching the video posted on the website with the article, I realized that this is an amazing school that any teacher would want to be a part of.  The most notable aspect that I found was that among it's various accomplishments, Principal Todd Wirt has established a program titled Capturing Kids' Hearts. The program is centered on teachers revolutionizing how students react to schooling in general with a positive feedback model.  The program functions "in which teachers are asked to greet students with a pat or a handshake, and open the classroom to details about the good things happening in students’ lives, in an effort to make the school culture less teacher-centered." This intent to shift learning onto not just the students shoulders by the teacher who they feel is just giving them work, reignites learning and shows it to students differently.  The "digital conversion" instead bridges the gap to form relationships with students where the work they are doing is enriching, engaging, and spurs students to look at teachers with understanding as to why such assignments must be completed to better prepare them for the challenges of the workforce.

We all might see this as a relatively easy thing to do.  I thought that it was rather obvious for teachers to incorporate this into our teaching styles along with adapting our curriculum to fit students' needs and caring about their performance so they can succeed.  I was naive at first and then realized that this approach changes traditional teaching and poses a true importance on teaching through technology to better the education of our students.  This district shows how the hybrid schooling and one to one, face to face centered instruction can merge and includes a introduction of new methods into our craft of teaching that at every opportunity possible not only make the students learn but the teachers learn as well.

My sister recently was given a laptop as was all of her colleagues within her school district to aid in teaching as well as adapt their curriculum.  Though she initially seemed not too happy about its presence, I thought that this was an amazing breakthrough in learning for her and her students.  I tried to pose it to her this way.  Though it may seem a bit cumbersome to have more responsibilities, it is already our responsibility to aid in the best education for our students that we are capable of. This only further helps bring that aid to fruition.  How can we be upset about changing lives by enriching the mind and fueling creativity with our lessons?

Would you want to work in this district? Seems to me like a rather simple answer comes to mind.  Read the entire article if you have time.  It focuses on something that all educators should see importance in. Also, watch the short video on the article's webpage to give you some further insight into how this "digital conversion" has dramatically changed these students and their learning.  Sound off with your thoughts or comments!