Projecting exactly how to integrate new and newer technology into teaching and learning over the years ahead, Milton created a definition of an ideal facilitator. The ideal facilitator, as the concept goes, is an experienced teacher who loves technology — who would seed a culture among educators that routinely considers, tests and supports technology that could be transformative in the teaching
and learning process.
Mark Connolly and Josh Furst are Milton’s first instructional technologists. They work with faculty across all disciplines. Josh and Mark are not new to Milton. Mark joined the modern languages department to teach Spanish in 2002, and he ultimately served as department chair. Since 2010, Josh has worn many hats, beginning as A/V media tech coordinator and most recently serving as K–8 technologist. Now he advises Class II students and teaches Values in the affective education program.
“One of our priorities is connecting with all faculty to get a clear perspective on what they hope their own students will achieve in their classrooms. We have met with more than 50 faculty members,” says Josh. “We are also helping teachers to re-imagine what evaluation and assessment might look like, feel like, and what role assessment has in their courses.”
“Josh’s and Mark’s passion and enthusiasm about instructional technology resonated with the hiring committee and with our faculty,” says Indu Singh, dean of teaching and learning. “They both have a really strong belief in how technology and pedagogy can intersect, so that we are not just thinking about technology for the sake of technology, but rather ways it might improve how teaching and learning happens.”
One key task for Mark and Josh is providing support on the School’s two major platforms — Schoology and Google Apps for Education. Some steps are simple but effective, such as creating a virtual space (#miltonfaculty) in Schoology for faculty to explore, discuss and share resources.
“Not only do we provide the support, but we also want to get everyone to look beyond the platforms,” says Mark. “What does it mean to use these tools equally well as a biology teacher, as a history teacher, or as a Spanish teacher? We are also shifting ‘I want’ requests to ‘I would like to be able to.’ Instead of ‘I want a Smart Board,’ for example, the thinking should be, ‘I would like my students to publish for an audience.’ Starting there helps us help the faculty think about these tools in terms of improving the student experience.”
Mark and Josh are also encouraging faculty to incorporate more multimedia into course work when appropriate.
“Taking the standard five-paragraph essay and thinking of ways to introduce other elements is an example,” says Mark. “Maybe using an audio or video component is a great solution. We’d like to bring more creativity into the traditional assessment as well — to offer alternative ways for students to show they understand the subject.”
Over the summer, one of the first teachers to approach Mark and Josh with ideas was Linde Eyster, who teaches biology. Linde was a fan of the conference boards that she used to facilitate student discussion in a former Milton email system.
“She wanted to find another way for her students to demonstrate their biology understanding beyond the written lab,” says Mark. “We created virtual message boards in Schoology where students are asking questions and answering each other, and Linde has oversight of the conversations happening there.”
“Mark has also helped Linde streamline the work flow in her class and maximize how she uses her resources,” says Josh. “I worked with her on re-imagining collaborative opportunities for her students. Biology students are curating photographs for a biodiversity photo conference they were invited to attend, so we have been working on that together.”
Josh and Mark’s office is in Cox Library, visible to students and faculty, encouraging casual interaction beyond their open office hours. They are committed to blogging and finding ways to grow their personal learning networks. Josh says providing student support is also important, and during the first few weeks of school, he made himself available until 11 p.m. each night for email questions and tech help. The technologists’ library office space also forecasts close collaboration with the library’s new director, Laura Peale, who has lots of great ideas on teacher-student resources.
by Liz Matson