Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Robert Scott, the Texas Commissioner of Education, visited Brownwood High School. Scott was invited as a special guest speaker at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Region XV monthly meeting held at Brownwood High School. Administrators from 46 school districts in Region XV were in attendance. Brownwood ISD Superintendent, Dr. Reece Blincoe, invited Commissioner Scott to visit Brownwood High School, as it is one of only two National Blue Ribbon High Schools in the State of Texas. Blincoe earlier stated, “We are honored the Commissioner is coming to Brownwood. This is a big deal; the Commissioner doesn’t visit just any school.”
The administrators of districts represented seemed thrilled as they showed off just what their schools have experienced with the new technology of laptops and smart boards. Some teachers in videos shown stated that the excitement of the changing classroom is overwhelming and they feel they are learning as much from the kids as the kids are from them. Some even expressed needing extra time to learn the technology so they can better instruct the students.
The meeting showcased student projects from several area high schools to demonstrate how technology is being incorporated in the classroom. Several districts in the Region including Brownwood, Ballinger and Coleman ISDs have already begun the 1:1 Laptop Initiative, which has provided laptops for students and teachers. Through grants like Vision 2020 and Target Tech in Texas (T3), students and teachers in these districts will also be receiving laptops for grades 5 through 8.
In Coleman ISD’s presentation, the principal Richard Holloway stated that his school felt that they “finally have a way for the teachers and the students to really connect.” He also stated that, “students were excited about learning”.
Ballinger ISD administrators conveyed in a group video presentation how they have discovered that through technology, their students were now able to learn at their own pace. With having their own laptops, they no longer have to deal with so many scheduling conflicts, such as finding time to go to the library or computer lab to gain access to a computer for projects or class work. It was further noted that because of the computers, they now have an “even playing field” for all students.
Brownwood ISD Superintendant had a brief statement about how the technology is a great learning tool, but referred the audience to a group of students who were now experiencing the new technology and innovations in their classroom. A short question and answer session with these students, who gracefully and professionally answered the questions with ease. A short presentation of sample projects students completed in classes such as geography, physics and math were shown to those in attendance. One part of this presentation was a silent movie using hundreds of still photos.
Following the student technology project presentations, Commissioner Scott addressed the group regarding technology and had a brief question and answer session. Scott began his question and answer session with his own belief that “every kid in the state deserves the right to go to college or at least the chance.”
He recounted a story to the group of his tenth grade year having a guidance counsellor that gave a career aptitude test which showed his results to indicate that he would be someone inclined for “loading and helping.” Scott smiled when he recounted how he wished he could have called that guidance counsellor when he graduated with a law degree and later when he received his appointment as the State’s Commissioner of Education.
A question was asked regarding the deficit in the state budget for education and how this would affect the technological growth and maintaining the newly updated classrooms. Scott answered that he felt many discretionary grants, such as the programs discussed, would likely be cut on the state level in the near future; however he felt on the national level, stimulus funding would still be available to help continue what has been started. Scott also mentioned a newly created platform that the State of Texas is working on and will be free to the school districts. He explained that the students will have an ePortfolio that will show all of their achievements throughout their school career and even online classes that may be available to students who wish to take courses that their local high school does not offer.
Top Photo: Robert Scott, the Texas Commissioner of Education addressing the crowd at BHS on Wednesday.
Below: BHS students answer questions regarding the impact technology has had in their education.
