What programs, initiatives, or people are making the biggest difference right now?
A. Curriculum management systems are driving changes in pedagogy. We use SchoolNet, which helps our teachers look at trends and patterns for their students and better customize learning for them. Companies like Wireless Generation are providing mobility and opportunities for assessment on the fly. Games and simulations such as Riverwalk, by Harvard’s Chris Dede, are harnessing the kind of rich digital media, to which students are accustomed, to encourage problem-solving, creativity, and inquiry-based learning. That game targets middle school science and math students, and will be implemented by our district in the fall. “Media on Demand” is another technology that is helping teachers offer targeted instruction to students. We use Safari Montage, which allows instructors to search under specific categories for high-quality, standards-aligned video, activities, quizzes, and other resources. We’re also using that program to do videoconferencing with other countries. For instance, students
