Ryan McKernan helps Sandra On (’17) graph lines on the projector. Photo by Yasir Khaleq.By Benjamin Minch, Staff Writer
Technology has shaped today’s society and it has done the same with Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) classrooms. From projectors to Chromebooks, teachers everywhere around FVHS are starting to use technology to change how we learn.
Joseph Barro, an English teacher at FVHS, is incorporating the use of technology into all his classes.
“I plan to project iPad onto the overhead and use it for various annotating, close reading, blogs and other projects. I will be also be using other apps such as Thinglink, Padlet, infographics and social media for communication between me and the students,” said Barro.
These new ways of interactive learning are shaping the way school functions. Now any traditional lesson can be transformed into a hands on method of learning, like a game of Kahoot or other online activities. These new programs and activities allow students to interact more often with each other and also provide more opportunities for students to connect with their teachers.
“I love using technology in class because it is different,” said Daniel Sanders (18’).
Some teachers feel that as technology advances, it is helpful to incorporate these new mechanisms into their teachings in order to further the learning of their students.
“Technology is the natural mode of interaction for this current generation of students, and it is my role as a teacher to embrace the new technology options and try to adapt them as well as I can to the academic endeavor within my subject. As an English teacher, I believe technology is transforming the way we communicate, and it is my role to help blend both the traditional with the modern,” said Barro.
Many other teachers around campus, like math teacher Ryan McKernan, feel the same way about connecting with their students and believe that technology is vital in achieving this.
“I don’t like being bored in my class room, so I envision myself being a student and one thing that we all connect with right now is technology. So, I then use that as a tool to like instruct them. It also helps students that are good at notes to visually see a concept and wrap their mind around it in a different way,” said McKernan.
