Educators in Ferndale are using technology to design learning experiences and provide opportunities that were previously not possible for students. Rather than leading with a device-driven mentality focused primarily on Chromebooks or iPads, our educators integrate technology by focusing on content and instructional approaches appropriate for their students and letting those be the drivers behind the technology that they choose to utilize in their classroom.

t is no secret that our students love technology. However, when it comes to finding the right technology to support student learning, the process may surprise you. 

Ferndale High School staff looked a bit puzzled when halfway through a “technology” professional learning session, they found themselves building with Strawbees–plastic construction connectors that allow you to build prototypes of anything you can imagine using regular drinking straws. The inevitable question hanging in the air was, “What does this have to do with technology?” 

Although we generally come to the conclusion that technology is always something shiny and new like a Chromebook or the latest iPhone, technology is really any tool or material that has been developed to help us solve a problem or achieve a specific end result. Pencils and paper, whiteboards and markers, and even manipulatives like Strawbees are examples of technology though perhaps not quite as flashy. 

Because an effective lesson with technology integration is like crafting the perfect recipe of content, pedagogy, and technology tools, it can be seen in so many diverse and exciting forms in Ferndale Public Schools.

• A high school science class is utilizing Cubelet robots to apply an understanding of modularity and computational thinking while collecting data through sensors.

• A kindergarten class is building prototypes of an animal shelter with Strawbees or 3D pens.

• A fifth grade teacher is utilizing Google Classroom to provide real-time feedback to students as they work on a writing task on devices in class.

• TCEC students are taking virtual field trips around the world using VR (virtual reality) headsets.

The possibilities are only limited by our collective imaginations.

As these new tools are developed and access to them expands, they bring novel and exciting approaches to education. With the additional support of our community and organizations like the Ferndale Education Association, teachers at Ferndale Schools are able to innovate and engage with students on a whole new level. Stay tuned for more exciting stories about technology integration in (and outside) our classrooms.

While some tools can be bought from schools’ general funds, the purchasing of more expensive items can be challenging. One potential source of funding is bonds. This past spring, staff were invited to apply for Future Technology funds from a 2012 bond. These are the winning applications. All of these technology integration strategies were funded and began implementation on the fall of 2018-19, although some of the technology purchased for them is shared across strategy and student groups.