By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Buckeye Central held the second of six community engagement meetings Wednesday night. While the meeting was once again hosted by Dave Williamson, and Andrea Presler, the topic was different as Buckeye Central was looking for input on where the community felt the school was at as far as technology and innovation, and where things will be headed in the next few years.
Williamson discussed the purpose behind the meetings.
“I really think that a lot of it is school districts in general are trying to engage more of the public in the decision making process. School boards are paid to do the work they do to make those decisions, but it’s a whole lot better to have the public involved to know how tough those decisions are,” Williamson said. “And so I think there is a lot of value in having community members come together to speak about tough issues.”
Superintendent Tara Myerink opened the meeting welcoming everyone. “A lot has changed in technology from when we were in school, and a lot is still changing.”
During the meeting, Williamson had the audience break off into groups and hold individual group discussions while filling out a questionnaire that was placed at each table asking where people feel Buckeye Central is at technologically, and where they see the future of technology use for learning inside the classrooms, as well as outside of the classrooms.
When asked by an attendee what the questionnaire was about, Williams explained, “This process is the board trying to gauge how the community views change and what should the future look like for the school.”
Prior to breaking the crowd into four groups, Andrea Presler, and Buckeye Central Technology Coordinator Tammy Studer gave a presentation on the New Education Paradigm revolving around the technology advancements, and how the use of technology has created a shift in the way classes are being taught.
Studer then took the reins of the presentation and explained where Buckeye Central is at technologically , and some of the newer developments, such as blended learning, where the school still uses instruction, but has the students search for info of what was taught using the school’s, as well as the students’ own devices such as laptops, I-pads, and computers.
Studer further explained that that a lot of the newer technologies, as well as teaching methods are being used to help students prepare for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Assessment tests, which will begin being administered in the 2014-15 school year.
The next Buckeye Central Community Engagement Meeting will be held on at 7 p.m., Aug. 20, at the Bloomville Community Center.