{"id":16368,"date":"2013-01-29T08:20:28","date_gmt":"2013-01-29T13:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=16368"},"modified":"2013-01-29T14:20:35","modified_gmt":"2013-01-29T19:20:35","slug":"how-orange-county-schools-are-preparing-to-go-digital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/01\/29\/how-orange-county-schools-are-preparing-to-go-digital\/","title":{"rendered":"How Orange County Schools Are Preparing To Go Digital"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_14607\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 298px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2012\/11\/01\/florida-department-of-education-budget-request-would-upgrade-school-technology-digital-learning\/kid-on-ipad-by-flickingerbrad\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-14607\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14607\" title=\"kid on ipad by flickingerbrad\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2012\/11\/kid-on-ipad-by-flickingerbrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"215\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">flickingerbrad \/ Flickr<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Florida schools face a 2015 deadline to deliver more classroom lessons digitally, such as using iPads, tablets or e-readers.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/fetc.org\/Events\/Florida-Educational-Technology-Conference\/Home.aspx\">FETC, one of the nation\u2019s largest education technology conferences<\/a>, opens in Orlando this week. StateImpact Florida will take a look at how state schools are trying to meet requirements to integrate more technology in lessons.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">_______<\/p>\n<p>Facing a <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/01\/28\/as-education-technology-deadline-nears-a-florida-teacher-lets-iphones-invade-her-classroom\/\">2015\u00a0deadline to add more digital textbooks and materials to classroom instruction<\/a>, Orange County schools chief operations officer Michael Eugene has about as many questions as answers.<\/p>\n<p>Eugene said digital instruction \u2013 using computers, tablets or e-readers \u2013 is more interactive and allows teachers to better engage students.<\/p>\n<p>But while the benefits in the classroom\u00a0could be big, Eugene and other\u00a0state and local school leaders <del><\/del>still sorting out the details:<\/p>\n<p>What exactly\u00a0does<del><\/del> Florida\u00a0law require in the way of digital teaching?<\/p>\n<p>What materials and techniques work best?<\/p>\n<p>How much internet\u00a0bandwidth do schools need?<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s all this going to cost?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a game-changer of a discussion,\u201d Eugene said. \u201cWhat is specifically meant by &#8216;digitally delivered discussion&#8217;?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Florida&#8217;s textbook requirement is one of two big tech transitions facing Florida schools.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content alignleft\"><h4 class=\"related-header\">Related<\/h4><div class=\"links\"><h5>Posts<\/h5><ul><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/01\/24\/five-takeaways-on-floridas-switch-to-new-academic-standards\/\">Five Takeaways On Florida&#8217;s Switch To New Academic Standards<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/01\/24\/a-billion-dollar-education-budget-wishlist-teacher-raises-and-new-technology\/\">A Billion-Dollar Education Budget Wishlist: Teacher Raises And New Technology<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/01\/28\/as-education-technology-deadline-nears-a-florida-teacher-lets-iphones-invade-her-classroom\/\">As Education Technology Deadline Nears, A Florida Teacher Lets iPhones Invade Her Classroom<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"topics\"><h5>Topics<\/h5><p class=\"topic\"><img class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2012\/05\/aple-core.jpg\" height=\"60\" width=\"60\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/topic\/common-questions\/\">Send Us Your Questions About The Common Core<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p>The other is the implementation of new, tougher education standards adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. These\u00a0Common Core State Standards\u00a0will <del><\/del>require\u00a0computerized testing starting in 2014. And experts believe companies that develop curriculum for schools\u00a0will focus on digital content as they <del><\/del>retool\u00a0their products to meet the standards.<\/p>\n<p>Digitally delivered content and Common Core will be\u00a0big topics this week at FETC in Orlando. The event is one of the nation\u2019s largest education technology conferences. About 10,000 educators will attend the event, which runs through Thursday.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">The conference is a chance for teachers, principals and others to compare notes, share ideas and meet the companies behind the latest ed gadgets.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>They meet as schools across the country are contemplating a technology overhaul to meet new, tougher education standards adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. Those standards take effect in the fall of 2014.<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Matching Tools To The Task<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_16393\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/01\/29\/how-orange-county-schools-are-preparing-to-go-digital\/1-29-michaeleugene\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-16393\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16393\" title=\"1-29 MichaelEugene\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2013\/01\/1-29-MichaelEugene-300x180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2013\/01\/1-29-MichaelEugene-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2013\/01\/1-29-MichaelEugene.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Orange County Public Schools<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Orange County schools chief operations officer Michael Eugene.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Florida Department of Education deputy chancellor Mary Jane Tappen said school districts need to remember that some technology won&#8217;t work for students. <\/span>Districts need to ask themselves what the most appropriate tool is for the different content areas, Tappen said.<\/p>\n<p>If one thing is clear, Tappen said, it&#8217;s that<del><\/del> it will be more convenient for districts\u00a0to purchase digital content. <del><\/del>Much like iTunes allowed customers to buy only the songs they want, schools and teachers will be able to pick and choose among lessons, texts and other resources.<\/p>\n<p>Orange County schools deputy superintendent Jesus Jara said his district will plan around the material students are supposed to be learning &#8212;\u00a0not the machine students are using.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur instruction is going to be driven by the curriculum,\u201d Jara said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to be the fad of the technology or the device.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Jara said the district <em>will<\/em> emphasize technology in the classroom.\u00a0Students are already using smart phones and tablets. Why not deliver lessons on a device they already love using?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t want [students] to come to school and power down,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Educators say incorporating more technology in education has many potential benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Digital textbooks can be updated more quickly than print editions\u00a0and can include interactive<del><\/del> elements\u00a0such as videos or a timeline. In addition, digital books may be less expensive than traditional books. The books are cheaper for publishers to produce and ship.<\/p>\n<p>Long-term, educators hope technology might mean higher attendance rates and fewer discipline problems because students are more interested in their school work.<\/p>\n<h3>Orange County&#8217;s Experiment<\/h3>\n<p>Speed is another benefit: Tablets and computers can provide teachers\u00a0instant feedback on how students are doing.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, in one Orange County classroom every student has a tablet. When the teacher asks a question, he or she can instantly see which students got the answer right and which ones didn\u2019t. The teacher can then follow-up with students who answered incorrectly.<\/p>\n<p>And the tablet ensures that every student participates in class exercises\u00a0\u2013 even the shy ones.<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">While new curriculum and technology will change how and what students learn, Michael\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Eugene<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> said it will also change the way Orange County designs schools.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>When every student has a laptop or tablet, Eugene said,\u00a0\u201cjust imagine all the battery charging that has to go on. How many data ports does a classroom need?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s fairly easy to add bandwidth or purchase devices, Eugene said. But adding technology might also\u00a0force school districts to reallocate staff, adding more workers to help train and support instructional staff.<\/p>\n<p>Those changes might take longer to carry out.<\/p>\n<p>Orange County is picking 10 pilot sites next year to experiment with digital learning. Some schools, such as Audubon Park Elementary School, <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2012\/03\/08\/high-tech-orlando-reading-program-helps-those-struggling-most\/\">are early adopters of technology and digital materials<\/a>. But the district will also pick schools which currently use little technology and might need to upgrade bandwidth or other capacity.<\/p>\n<p>The district will study the results from those schools, as well as schools in Huntsville, Alabama, San Diego and Clearwater, to determine what works prior to the fall 2015 deadline to add more digital instruction.<\/p>\n<p>Eugene says the district has no estimate yet on what the transition will cost, and the district expects just $10 million in state funding \u2013 so far.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that timeline has some pressure,\u201d Eugene says. \u201cWe\u2019re going to find some unforeseen problems.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FETC, one of the nation\u2019s largest education technology conferences, opens in Orlando this week. StateImpact Florida will take a look at how state schools are trying to meet requirements to integrate more technology in lessons. _______ Facing a 2015\u00a0deadline to add more digital textbooks and materials to classroom instruction, Orange County schools chief operations officer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":14607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[1036,680,791,43,1050],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16368"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16400,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16368\/revisions\/16400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}