60.9 F
Clarksville
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeEducationClarksville Academy staff attends iSummit

Clarksville Academy staff attends iSummit

Clarksville AcademyClarksville, TN – Ten representatives from Clarksville Academy recently attended and/or presented sessions at the iSummit in Atlanta Georgia. iSummit is a conference centered on using Apple or Mac based technology as an integral part of education. Approximately 900 educators were in attendance from 30 different schools located in the United States and additional countries.

Those attending the conference include: Clarksville Academy’s Kay Drew, Head of School; Cara Miller, Technology Director; Piper Bell, iCurriculum Infuser; Brittney Rowlett, Challenge Based Learning Director; Erica Coleman, Head of Upper School; Tracy Burkhart, Head of Intermediate School; Debbie Hollis, Arts Chair and iTeam leader; Tecia Hinson, iTeam leader; Hykeem Craft, Upper School English and German Instructor; Frances Traughber, iTeam leader.

The group attended sessions on Administrative, Technical and Instructional information and learned many new skills that will enhance technology in their classrooms. Many felt these sessions gave them the tools they need to take their teaching to the next level and use outside the box tools in their teaching.

Francis Traughber, 2nd grade teacher and iTeam member, felt the most valuable information learned was that which she could use in her classroom. Sessions stressed the fact that today’s students are born with technology and that schools can’t ignore the fact that they are focused and engaged in technology from a young age.  Many of the students today, know as much or more about technology than their teachers. It is important to incorporate these tools into everyday learning.  Francis will be using apps on her iPad and websites with the students for her classroom instruction this year.

Piper Bell and Brittney Rowlett had the privilege of being selected to present at the conference. Piper led a session titled, “Stop Movie Motion using iMovie” which focused on the iMovie, Garage Band and iPhoto and the camera software all included with a Mac. Brittney presented a session on “Making Language Learning with Web 2.0”. This session focused on teaching language in a  barrier free context.  Using resources like the web and Skype students can virtually visit other countries and talk with students from those places.

Hykeem Craft, who will be new to the Clarksville Academy family this fall, felt the iSummit was a great introduction into technology at CA. “Attending iSummit 2012 in Atlanta, GA was such a didactic experience! I was honored to be among such passionate and enthusiastic professionals united for a common goal: to improve teaching and learning through the integration of technology. The information that was provided in each session was presented in such an ebullient fashion, that I was thrilled to share what I had learned with my colleagues and students. Being new to the CA faculty this year, I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated iSummit 2012 for helping soften my transition to a school that is a leader in 1:1 technology integration.”

Kay Drew felt this experience was a valuable one for our staff, “Our first year of having the 1:1 laptop program at CA was a success.  The level of engagement that we witnessed with our students was huge.   Students desire interactive technology, and for them, curriculum without interaction is viewed as boring.  They want their studies to be real and relevant work while it is our charge to keep it relevant and challenging. Having opportunities to talk and meet with others who are embracing technology as an educational tool makes us all better educators.”

Clarksville Academy is truly at the forefront of technology integration, but it is not just about handing a student a laptop and an iPad. It is the engaging and relevant experiences that we create for our students that make CA stand out among all others who are using technology in their schools.  Clarksville Academy will begin to deploy the second phases of the 1:1 program by giving the iPad3 to students in grades 6 through 8 in the upcoming weeks for the new school year.

Clarksville Academy’s 2012-2013 school year will begin on August 13th.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles