Technology for Learning

Technology for Learning Philosophy

We believe that technology has the power to transform education by allowing students unparalleled access to the resources and tools they need to learn anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace. To that end, we have made the commitment to provide every student at HHS with an iPad beginning in the 2017-18 school year. Our goals for our 1:1 Technology for Learning Outcomes are as follows:

  • To engage students in an authentic, higher order learning environment through the use of technology
  • To equip teachers with the tools necessary to differentiate instruction for more personalized learning
  • To promote student passions and ownership over learning
  • To equip students with the digital literacy and citizenship skills to be a productive citizen
  • To cultivate self-directed life-long learning, critical thinking and collaboration using digital communication and productivity tools.

Research-Based Frameworks to Support Technology Integration

To leverage the power of technology at Hershey High School, we rely on two research-based frameworks (SAMR Model and ISTE Standards) to help teachers incorporate instructional strategies that best support a 1:1 digital learning environment. These frameworks are explained below:

Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition (SAMR) Model: The SAMR model supports the infusion of technology into the classroom by helping teachers understand the role that technology can play to either enhance or transform education. For example, technology can be used to substitute a task previously done by a direct tool (pen and paper, for example) without changing anything about the way the students think or learn. Or, it may augment a task by replacing the direct tool, but adding an additional layer of learning. Substitution and Augmentation, then, may enhance a student's learning. The real power of technology, though, comes through modification of tasks or in the complete redefinition of a task to completely transform the learning opportunity. For example, the use of Skype in the classroom to enable students to speak with their peers in another country would be a transformative use of technology in the classroom.

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards: ISTE, a nonprofit membership association for educators focused on educational technology, has published a set of international standards for leveraging the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning. The standards are clustered into three groups for students, teachers and administrators.

According to ISTE, "The ISTE Standards work together to support educators, students and leaders with clear guidelines for the skills and knowledge necessary to move away from the factory model. These are not the typical boxes educators need to check. They provide a framework for rethinking education, adapting to a constantly changing technological landscape and preparing students to enter an increasingly global economy."

These two frameworks help us leverage technology for learning in order to prepare our students for their future in an ever-changing digital world.