Over the last several weeks, the campus has been alive with the buzz of excitement and enthusiasm for the year ahead. Yet just before it had a chance to sink in, we’re already at the mid-trimester mark. This is a time that is meant for us to stop for a moment, reflect on the past few weeks, adjust, and carry on. It feels like only yesterday that the dust settled from the moving of copiers, the requests to reset forgotten passwords has died down, and the number of replacement styli has dropped back down to normal.
By this time of the year everyone is usually settled in. New students are mastering the art of using their tablets and faculty are figuring out how to use the newly acquired hardware or software that was requested. Major technology or EdTech projects were completed over the summer and preliminary plans for next year are starting to take shape. A typical cycle for most, except technology and innovation are not typical. The only constant in my world is that things are constantly changing and projects can take place at any time in the year.
New Phone System Coming
Major changes we can plan for, like the installation of a new Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system will be completed this fall. Some changes are welcomed with open arms like the replacement of all the copiers on campus for teacher and student use. Small changes happen all the time but may go unnoticed like the new software that is running the digital displays in the upper school and admissions. These are just a few of the changes that have been happening around campus and there is more to come!
One of the greatest things about being at Cary Academy is that a community dedicated to discovery, innovation, collaboration, excellence understands that change and disruption are inherent to discovery and innovation. At times we take calculated risks when we need to wait and see if the results end in our favor. Projects like new devices for faculty and staff will shape what we look for in new devices for our students. Providing 3D printers and maker carts in the Design Lab aide middle school classes in creating a Maker Space of their own. The utilization of a new EdTech platform will allow teachers to discover new applications and provides CA with impact testing to determine if the software is making an impact on teaching and learning. What is exciting is that we are already seeing some of the effects from these projects.
“The Next Big Thing”
With change happening all the time, it can be tough to keep up with the pace of technology. There are so many innovative technologies that are being marketed as “the next big thing” or as something that “will revolutionize how we do things”. There is none bigger than virtual and augmented reality. It is easy to see the potential impact these systems will make in the educational community. The integration of virtual and augmented reality in the classroom with Google Cardboard and other systems is not new. However, systems like the HTC Vive have created fully immersive experiences that are like no other. The exciting part is that these types of technologies are just in their infancy.
We see the potential as well and have brought virtual reality to CA. (Shh…please don’t tell the students yet, the adults are having too much fun!) To better understand how these system’s affect teaching and learning, Cary Academy has developed collaborative partnerships with those in the industry and academia to study the effects of metacognition and computational thinking using virtual reality. Additionally, we are working on opportunities within the Computer Science and Arts departments for students to develop and create virtual reality content. The possibilities with VR are endless and we are just at the beginning! Each day is bringing something new and exciting.
So in reality, while others are getting settled into their year the Information Services team are as the saying goes…“Like a duck on the pond. On the surface everything looks calm but beneath the water those little feet are churning a mile a minute”.