Edgar Hatrick, superintendent of Loudon County Public Schools in Virginia, recently addressed local business leaders, praising educators in the school district who displayed dedication and forward-thinking to prepare their students for professional life in the 21st century, Leesburg Today reports.
Hatrick recognized educators who not only dedicated their time and personal efforts to their students, but who pursued new creative avenues through advancing technology in an effort to connect with their students.
Classroom technology tools, like a document camera, an interactive whiteboard or an HDMI projector, provide students with a wide breadth of interactive educational experiences that bridge a gap between their education and their everyday lives, Hatrick noted, according to the source.
"Every day our students use numerous technological devices to do everything from texting to gaming to school research. We can't expect them to simply disconnect when they enter the classroom," Hatrick said, according to the source. "I think about interactive history where kids could not only read about history, but actually see it come off the page, and not just in the classroom but they can take that technology and those lessons home each night."
Hatrick also noted the cost benefits of integrating technology into the classroom. While skeptics maintain that technology can become obsolete just as textbooks can, Hatrick noted that in terms of long-term benefits, new technology simply has a much longer shelf-life.
