by Geneva Gleason 

WHS seniors Sarah Davidson and Samantha Gruskin were chosen by Principal Mr. Peter Renwick, Ms. Jacqueline Spring and Ms. Caitlin MacDonald to join them on a panel to discuss the use of technology in education on Oct. 24 in Atlantic City.

The panel is part of the New Jersey School Boards Association’s 2013 workshop, which is about how technology can transform teaching and learning, according to Spring. Spring added that she and MacDonald taught the 2012-2013 American Studies class that piloted the use of iPads in WHS classrooms, according to Spring.
Davidson and Gruskin were chosen based on their ability to articulate the technological philosophy of last year’s American Studies class: to use technology to make learning a more collaborative and interactive process, according to Spring.

Gruskin said, “Hopefully, because I’m a student who has experienced the benefits of using technology in a classroom, I can give some insight and offer a perspective that state-level education administrators might not encounter very often.

”Renwick said his goal is “to highlight the fantastic work that the class did as a shining example of how technology should be used in the classroom.”
Said Spring, “It’s a great opportunity for Westfield in a state capacity to have a moment to showcase the innovative things we’ve been doing here.”

Gruskin said that because of the technology in her class, she became a better researcher and thinker.  “That absolutely would not have happened if we hadn’t had the iPads,” she added.
More information about the American Studies class and its use of technology can be found at www.amstud.weebly.com.
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