Keeping Pace with Technology: Adams 14 Celebrates Three Years of Global Learners

Technology moves fast, but so does Adams 14. On February 12, the District celebrated the third anniversary of its Global Learners project, which has supplied teachers with technological tools such as laptops, interactive white boards and digital cameras to begin transforming the teaching and learning experience throughout schools. Equipping teachers with knowledge and resources about new technological skills is crucial to helping students succeed in the 21st century.

The project began after Adams 14 “improved student and teacher technology access through a Districtwide technology replacement plan, and the next step was to begin training teachers in the effective use of this technology,” explains Superintendent Sue Chandler.

By all accounts, Global Learners has been a huge success. Coinciding with its launch was a Global Learners blog (http://principianteglobal.blogspot.com/), to which teachers have since contributed a variety of stories about their classroom experiences. The blog has generated widespread enthusiasm and support among worldwide readers who have benefited from Adams 14’s insights. The overall impact on the District has been a sophisticated understanding on the part of teachers and students of how modern technologies are changing the communications landscape. Many participating teachers have spoken at regional and national conferences, a testament to their growing capacities for implementing student-centered learning and collaboration around the integration of technology in the classroom.

District technology trainer Dave Tarwater says, “Being involved in the Global Learner Project has been the highlight of my 19 years as an Adams 14 educator. Seeing the project grow from ideas and conversations three years ago to a total of 47 participating Global Learner teachers seems incredible. Witnessing their amazing creativity and dedication (and that of the students) weaving 21st century teaching and learning throughout classrooms and curricula continually inspires me. One only has to visit the Global Learner classrooms to see the engagement, interest, collaboration and learning taking place.”

In a globalized world, education must help students keep pace with innovation and technology, and harness the power of both to form new opportunities for global collaboration. Opening its virtual doors to the world via Global Learners, Adams 14 is now actively engaged in a worldwide community of educators focused on student learning and ensuring that their experiences today lead to success that lasts a lifetime.

Global Learners videos are publicly available for viewing on Adams 14’s High Quality Teacher Resource Center at http://resourcecenter.adams14.org/engage-with-technology.aspx.