Students using technology in schools is an idea Aaron Spence remembers needing to defend a decade ago.
“That just blows my mind now,” the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Superintendent told the audience of students, staff, families and community members.
“I used to have to ask questions like: ‘Has anybody in the room used technology at some point today to solve a problem in your work environment or learning environment? Raise your hand.’”
On this night, nearly everyone in the audience listening to Spence raised their hands.
“Interestingly, just 10 years ago, that never would have been the case,” he said. “Now, every day, every person is using technology to solve problems.”
Today’s students likely can’t remember a time when technology didn’t feature prominently in their lives, and the division’s Digital Learning Anchor Schools are working to ensure that technology is featured prominently in their learning as well.
At a showcase event hosted April 19 at Kellam High School, the 15 Digital Learning Anchor Schools had the opportunity to show attendees how they are integrating technology with a variety of devices and digital resources to transform teaching and learning in their schools.
High Tech Heroes, xylophone-playing Dash robots and virtual visits to foreign lands were on display in school exhibits.
Students showed how they are coding and programming; how they are using digital resources to publish stories; and how they are investigating human anatomy in 3D.
“I gotta tell you, I’m fired up about it,” Spence told showcase attendees. “And I’m fired up about the changing face of instruction in Virginia Beach City Public Schools because of the work you’re doing in our Anchor Schools.”
“It’s not easy work. It’s a lot of thinking and wrestling with ideas as they come into being in our classrooms, and you’ve tackled that willingly and you’re making a difference. You’re leaving a legacy that all the other schools in the division really are going to have to learn from.”
Students, staff and relatives at the event showed they are eager to learn more, and the Digital Learning Anchor Schools are ready to show the way.
To learn more about the school division’s Digital Learning Anchor Schools initiative, visit vbschools.com.
View more photos from the showcase on the VBSchools Facebook page.
The Anchor Schools’ Technology Showcase was amazing! Students were given opportunity to demonstrate what they do in their classrooms every day. Kudos to our division leaders for the opportunity and to all of our instructional staff and parents for supporting the Showcase!