ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. –– Wall Township Public Schools Director of Technology Jeff Janover was pleasantly surprised this week during a 30-minute session at a New Jersey conference for statewide public school officials. Sitting in Learning with the iPad, he thought the discussion would be about a few apps available for classroom use.
“What I came away with was far more impressive,” Janover said. “Instead of just talking about individual apps, we were discussing the workflow associated with using apps in a classroom environment. The workflow approach to describing how to use these devices in a classroom is very powerful. As a result, I’m going to be pursuing professional development with that in mind.”
The session, led by Curriculum and Professional Development Mentor Andrew Grefig, was one of several offered by Teq at this year’s NJSBA 2012 “Partners in Student Success” event, which saw thousands of educators from around the state converge at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
Grefig typically spends his days working with teachers while leading professional development sessions. He said talking to school administrators offers an exciting challenge.
“Getting the ear of a school board member who gets it, you’re able to impact what they are going to go back to their board and say. They’ll be able to say, ‘This is what I saw and this is what we should be doing — how do we get to that point.’”
Teq Instructional Technology Specialist Matthew Thaxter said he enjoyed conversations with administrators about how to improve student learning, no matter what technology already exists in a school or district’s classrooms.
“Our job is not about the technology, but how to incorporate that technology to make a more effective classroom,” Thaxter said. “We want to get students learning and see progress and achievement using the technology the districts already employ.”
Teachers from New Jersey will have a chance to hear the Teq message at the NJEA Convention November 8-9, also at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
