The following comes from a My 17 OC Catholic article by Malie Hudson:
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Orange are undergoing a technological transformation.
In some grade levels of every elementary school and in all high schools, every student is equipped with either an iPad, Chromebook or laptop that they have access to both in the classroom and at home through the one-to-one program.
But Greg Dhuyvetter, superintendent of schools, says that integrating technology into education is not the most important goal.
“What I care about is effective education and technology is one of the many tools that’s doing this,” says Dhuyvetter. “The idea here is that the device is a student’s tool. Whether it is for taking notes, creating, or researching information, that the student has the device available whenever it best fits the need of what they are doing.”
About four years ago, Dhuyvetter and his staff dedicated themselves to implementing the one-to-one program, one device for each student, in all the Diocese of Orange schools by the beginning of the 2015 school year, a goal that was met last fall.
Dhuyvetter says the Diocese of Orange is the perfect size for programs like this; with only 41 schools, teachers and administers are easily able to communicate and work together. Additional staff within the diocese with technology expertise also is part of the collaborative process.
I am grateful for this article (thank you CCD!), and for this school. I am a graduate of k-12 catholic education and the education was the best available in my town. I’m glad that ‘excellence’ and ‘catholic education’ still belong in the same sentence together. Congrats to those who sacrifice through hard work, donations, lower salaries, and less money at home to make the lives of these students more enriched academically and spiritually.
I wish all the modern technology would be shipped off to Tim-Buc-Tu! Forget it! I favor a traditional, classical education, with the traditional Baltimore Catechism, for Catholic schools– and lots of love, too!
Linda Maria, you assume that modern technology can’t be helpful to traditional classical education. Think about the resources that are available at the touch of a key or the movement of the “mouse.” When I went to school we had to go to the library to research for assignments, or the town library, or the county library or travel a hundred miles to the University library. Today, the answer is a few seconds away and on your phone. Technology is a help. By the way, my catechism is on my computer and on my iPad. People learn in new ways. Think of how old-fashion our computers will be in twenty years.
Bob One, technology has its uses, but mainly, a good education is best given in a traditional, classical format, with good teachers! Yes, it is nice that computers provide information at your fingertips– but not all information is available, even with computers! Information is only one part of a good education. Kids should also learn to read god books, and go to the library often! It is often said, that in this modern age, of tons of information available, due to technology — most American kids today, have the worst education, and worst literacy skills, in our entire history! A mere machine, like a computer– can NEVER be a substitute– for truly god teaching!
What a shame it is, that Americans must be forced to spend thousands of dollars all the time, buying the latest “tech toys” and gadgets, and replacing them, when they become obsolete! This is overall, way too expensive! The inventors/manufacturers of these “tech toys,” mainly based in Silicon Valley, as well as other areas– are getting extremely wealthy, as a result of our society’s EXTREME DEPENDENCY on their products! However, a society so utterly DEPENDENT on these items, is a big worry!
Why don’t you start by turning off your computer and shipping it off to Tim Buc Tu? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!
In the past, many Catholic schoolchildren once received an OUTSTANDING education, even in many Third World countries– with much less available– mainly, good books, and good priests and nuns, as dedicated teachers!