BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NORWOOD, N.J.—A diverse roundtable offering educational, business and real-world perspectives to help students prepare for the future was attended by 20 parents and eighth-grade students Jan. 17 at Norwood Public School Media Center.
The roundtable was part of Superintendent Lisa Gross’s ongoing series of bimonthly forums for parents and students which previously have focused on the district’s code of conduct, implementation of an advisory period for students, and the value of mindfulness techniques.
‘Be problem solvers’
“We know that societal and technological changes are happening at an accelerating rate and school is not just about learning facts and figures. We want our children to learn how to communicate, be empathetic, persevere, and be problem seekers so they can improve the world they live in,” emailed Gross about the forum.
She told attendees that her hope for the session was that parents left with information helpful to children and students might hear some information to assist future plans.
Invited panelists included: Danielle DeQuintal, a senior at The College of New Jersey and Norwood Public School graduate; Kerri Hubbard, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan lead guidance counselor and local graduate; Richard Russo, a director at Ramapo College; and Joshua Schnell, principal program manager at Microsoft.
DeQuintal, majoring in elementary education, said assessments for student-teachers in New Jersey are becoming more difficult as a new statewide assessment called Educational Teachers Performance Assessment requires a lot of self-review, criticism, and performance evaluation before a teaching certificate is awarded.
Schnell said in the next five years the impact of software will be all-consuming on people’s lives as such technologies as Amazon, Netflix, video facetime and Skype grow and evolve.
“The next five years it’s only going to accelerate,” he said, noting evolving technology such as autonomous driving and smart homes are arriving soon.
“Software is going to eat [up] your daily life and you should embrace it,” he added.
Hubbard said when personnel are hired at NVOT “we do a deep social media search as well” and said “if something is out there it really could…impact you in the next four or five years.”
She advised high school students to be wary of posting pictures online that come back to possibly harm future college or career prospects.
Previously, Russo mentioned how two teachers lost their positions after a social media search revealed photos of them consuming alcoholic beverages that upset parents in the school district.
Networking important
Schnell said networking with friends, acquaintances, parents and others was important to future opportunities. Russo noted it’s more important sometimes who knows you rather than you needing to network with everyone.
“There are positives to technology but there are also negatives,” he said, stressing that potential colleges and employers use them to look for negative images and advised parents and students to be wary of posting inappropriate material.
Hubbard told parents to “let the process happen…don’t get caught up in the Northern Valley madness, ride your own road with your own son or daughter,” she said. “It all works out, it really does…that’s what I try to share,” she added.
DeQuintal said “you can do what you want to do as long as you’re passionate enough to make it happen.” She said “do what you’re passionate about…if that changes, that’s okay,” she said.
The hour-long discussion covered a range of questions posed by Gross along with a few audience questions.
“Technology is a vital part of the future, but do not lose sight with the importance of face-to-face and written communication,” said Gross, summarizing key points from the discussion.
Gross said another lesson learned included “keeping options open and knowing that it all will work out. Don’t get caught up with where you are going, but be in the moment. It is important to have a positive attitude,” she said.
She said the next roundtable will be held March 28 and will focus on creating student-centered learning environments.
Currently Gross said a group of teachers are working with a consultant to create “learner active technology-infused classrooms” which will be discussed.