CBHS Welcomes Tablet Technology

What goes on behind the iPad screen.

With the overwhelming tasks of preparing lesson plans, seating charts and familiarizing themselves with students, teachers have had a very busy three weeks. How they keep so balanced and organized? The Talon has the answer to that question: iPads.

During the 2012 Spring semester many teachers such as Assistant Principal and Religious Studies teacher Mr. Chris Symkowick-Rose had the privilege to participate in the pilot program which experimented with both iPads and Google Chromebooks to see which technology would be more beneficial to students learning.

The Talon caught up with Mr. Symkowick-Rose as he was vigorously checking his email on his iPad while walking up and down the halls of CB.

“I have had my iPad for about seven months now and its like my right hand — I use it more than my laptop,” he said. “As an administrative team we are starting to use them for walk-through observations to conserve paper.”

After the success of the pilot program, all full-time teachers at Christian Brothers received iPads this summer to integrate into their classrooms. Despite some initial skepticism from some, the program has been well-received

“I was surprised I liked it so much,” said Ms. Annie Hoekman-Veldstra and English teacher and Assistant Activities Director at CB. “I am not too computer savvy and I was nervous to have it in my possession, but I have been able to do a lot of research on it and enter grades at home while also being really organized.”

Ms. Hoekman-Veldstra is extremely active in the CB community and is also a masters candidate at Saint Mary’s College and says she started to do her research on the iPad.

However, due to her eyesight — she characterizes herself as “blind” – she does wish the iPad had a bigger screen. The involved English teacher also had some concerns regarding note taking.

“As a literature teacher, I prefer that my students have a hard copy in their hands to highlight and take notes rather than just reading off of a screen,” she explained.

Mr. Symkowick-Rose acknowledges there might be a learning curve when it comes to integrating tables into the classroom, but believes the school will benefit greatly from the adaptation of new technology when iPads are distributed to all students for the 2013-14 school year.

“It’s going to push us to change the the dynamic [when] we interact with students in the classroom,” he said.