ST. PAUL – Technological upgrades implemented to some classrooms at St. Paul Regional High School and Racette Jr. High School appear to have been an overall positive change.
During the Oct. 9 St. Paul Education board of trustees meeting, the board welcomed a delegation to seek feedback on the upgrades, which involved new projectors and sound systems.
Haley Ozga, a social studies teacher at St. Paul Regional, said she previously had an older projector which was not working well. The projector did not entirely show what she wanted to portray.
“It made it really difficult to show [students] any sort of video or photograph,” she said.
And while the new projector proved to be quite the learning curve, it only took her some adjustments to work it out. “It’s been really great,” said Ozga.
The new sound system allows for a mobile microphone and a speaker, and the sound can connect directly to some students’ hearing aids.
“So, that’s been really beneficial,” Ozga said.
The new tech upgrades also included laptops connected to the projector, according to Ozga. Compared to a stationary desktop computer she previously utilized, the mobility that the laptop provided made teaching more accessible.
“I can present from the back if I want or I can sit down next to a student,” she explained, providing examples of better student engagement. “It does make it a lot easier to move classrooms too if I have to.”
Ava Wilson, a student at St. Paul Regional High School, agreed.
“It’s a lot better because it’s a lot easier to see,” she said. The new system also allows students to livestream from their own computers which makes access and following class easier, according to Wilson.
Trustee Darcy Younghans asked if teaching efficiency has improved.
Ozga said yes, explaining some improvements with the tech upgrade involves a teacher being able to write something down on a pad just like on a paper, and whatever they write will be reflected on the projector instantaneously.
Wilson said she likes this system since it allows for better engagement with the teacher.
According to Regional High School Principal Mark Tichkowsky, some teachers were initially hesitant about the changes, but the introduction of apps like Canva has helped bridge the gap, allowing them to better demonstrate concepts to students.
Superintendent Peter Barron said that so far, 95 per cent of teachers at Regional have tried out the technological roll-out. “But other schools are also getting some televisions installed,” he said, adding 50 televisions will be put up in some classrooms throughout the division.
Cellphone Ban
During the board of trustees meeting, the board also took the opportunity to ask feedback from the St. Paul Regional High School delegation about their thoughts on the new cell phone policy.
“I haven’t had to deal with any issues or kids refusing to put their personal devices away,” said Tichkowsky. “I think it’s just going to become a norm. A lot of our junior highs were already at that point.”
Ozga said that as far as St. Paul Regional, students have been respectful of the policy. And while it might take a while for some to get used to it, “I think it’s a very positive thing.”
Wilson said that as a student, she does not mind the changes. “I’m one of those people who put it away so I can’t look at it,” she said.
But she also recognizes that many people are different.
“One of the biggest things is that after a lesson is done . . . I find that more students are trying to be more productive now,” she said. And for her, “There’s a lot more chances to actually get work done in class.”
