This morning I want to share with you some important findings regarding the education of students in our nation, and specifically, right here in East Longmeadow.

Recently, the National CEO Forum on Education and Technology, a panel comprised of twenty top fortune 500 companies, concluded a five year study on technology integration in schools in the U.S. This 5 year study concluded that: the use of instructional technology and its effects on the key building blocks of student achievement and life-long learning- is paramount and considered essential for both the student and the teacher.

Additionally, Anne Bryant, Executive Director of the National School Boards Association, states that in virtually every published report where school districts consciously integrated technology with their district curriculum, the quality of teaching and learning went up AND, children have become excited about learning.

For the first time in our nation’s history, education finds itself in new and uncharted waters. This is the first time that students are more knowledgeable, literate and more comfortable about an innovation so central to society- computers and digital technology.

The internet is beginning to effect all of us- the way we create wealth, the enterprise, the nature of commerce and marketing, the delivery system for entertainment, the role and dynamics of learning in the economy, the nature of government and politics, and most recently, the last presidential election with instantaneous gallop poles regarding the candidates.

First we had the baby boomers, then we had the TV generation. Next we had generations X and Y, now today’s students are the Internet generation. Don Tapscott in his best selling book titled “Growing Up Digital” calls these students, ages 2-22, the net generation or “N-Geners.”

Thus, it should not surprise us that the generation which first grows up with this new technology medium, our school students, will be defined by its relationship to it.

Unlike television, which robbed children of hours of play each day. Today’s digital media revolution is restoring this precious time. Time spent on the Internet is not passive time- its active time. It’s reading time. Its investigation time. Its processing, comprehension and analyzing time. Its problem solving time and writing time. And, its self-expression and communication time. On the Internet, students must “search for”, rather than simply “look at” a monitor.

We all know that information and education becomes knowledge through the application of human judgment. As students interact with and through the Internet, they are forced to exercise not only critical thinking but their judgment as well.

In the year 1900, only 11% of our nation’s youth attended school. Now, a century later, greater than 90% of our nation’s youth are in school. Yet, most schools and educators use the same tools as educators did a century ago.

Here is my thought-provoking question to you this morning,- How many industries, other than education, do the same thing today, in the same ways, with the same tools, as they did 100 years ago. Not many.

As educators, we must shift from “teacher transmitter” to “teacher facilitator”. We already have teachers in every building in our school system leading this change.

Teachers like: Adrea LaPlace and Lorraine Malone at Mapleshade

Like: Nancy Morrow and Cheryl Taylor at Mountain View,

Like: Wendy Lee, Lenny Palmer and Sue Superson and others at BPMS,

Like: Joe Calabrese and Gil Gonsalves and others at ELHS,

And Like: Leanne Morrissey and Carol Toth at Meadow Brook, and so many more others…

Now its time for all, not just our early adopters of technology, to integrate technology into their teaching.

As a school district, we have taken a great leaps into the digital age for our students. 5 years ago our district was technology poor – according to most standards. Today, we have assembled all the infrastructure and tools for learning:

a. Two computers in every classroom in all 5 school buildings- AND, as of next week, we will receive a third computer for every classroom;

b. High-speed cable modem access within our schools, classrooms and computer labs;

c. A district-wide software suite for professional use and student use alike.

d. Professional Development offerings during regular hours that rotate throughout the months;

e. Computerized student data across the district for teachers, nurses, cafeteria, libraries, counselors and administrators;

f. Teacher applications through our web pages;

g. Parent and Community information through our web pages;

h. And more…

But now we must take the step into technology that enhances and even changes the way we teach.

This past summer our school administrators and I went back to school. We reviewed and practiced over 150 active teaching strategies that require students to become active learners. Much of this research has come from the National Teacher Training Laboratories. You will be hearing more about these throughout the year. And, I plan to co-teach several of the teaching strategies professional development offerings this year. I challenge all educators, both new and master teachers, paraprofessionals and others too- to enroll in these sessions. Be watching for our professional development calendars coming soon.

New technology offers promise for a fresh model of teaching and learning.- one based on discovery and participation. This new generation of teaching technology tools will cause a rethinking of the nature of education- both in content and delivery.

Tomorrow our students will come into our classrooms for the first time this year. They grow up so fast. Growing up is about learning. The economy and world our students are growing into is very different than that of the baby boomers world we grew up in.

Today, the destination is different and so is the route these students must take.

On behalf of the school committee, myself and thousands of parents in East Longmeadow, thank you in advance, for enriching and guiding the lives of our students this year.