With the return of in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year, Aragon is implementing more technology in the classroom. Technology has become increasingly vital for students to complete online assignments, receive school-wide announcements and enjoy outdoor events such as rallies. However, there have been concerns about unstable internet connection and broken speaker systems. As such, the editors of The Outlook believe that more funding should be allocated to upgrading school technology to create a better learning and social environment.
The San Mateo Union High School District is moving in the right direction by increasing the availability of technology, but availability of technology offers little if this technology doesn’t have the means to function properly. We appreciate the District using the COVID-19 relief fund to purchase hardware and software and increasing the technology budget from under $1 million to $1.4 million for district-wide improvements. However, many of these improvements, including increasing bandwidth, are scheduled to take place in the late 2020s, which is not timely enough.
All of the Chromebooks and projector technology the District recently provided are dependent on a stable Wi-Fi connection. The lack of adequate Wi-Fi impedes students from working efficiently. Many teachers prefer interactive online lessons, using platforms such as Pear Deck, Kahoot and EdPuzzle to review classroom material. However, this method of teaching becomes ineffective when students are frequently disrupted by unstable Wi-Fi. Rather than being able to complete essays or participate in online activities, students are having to twiddle their thumbs as they wait for their computers to reconnect to the spotty Wi-Fi.
“Successful integration of technology … should be prioritized”
A potential short-term solution would be for teachers to provide both digital and paper copies of assignments in case they run into internet connection issues. However, in the long run, the school needs to improve its Wi-Fi.
In addition to Wi-Fi issues, the school’s speaker system at the football field is not effective. The use of sound speakers on campus is important for making recreational activities more interactive and enjoyable. The music that is played at rallies engages students and inclines them to cheer. However, at the Red Sea Rally, music was barely audible from the speaker system, so the cheer and dance teams performed with small personal speakers instead. Not only did the teams suffer, but the audience was unable to appreciate how their choreography synchronized with carefully chosen music. To prevent future setbacks like this, there should be a plan to replace or repair the systems back into good condition as soon as possible.
Another prevalent issue is the need for more tech support for students. Technical complications can happen at any moment, including when students are taking exams, which may disrupt their progress. Aragon currently only has one full-time IT employee, so it would be beneficial if the administration hired more officials for technology assistance.
Successful integration of technology into the classroom curriculum and extracurriculars should be prioritized. To achieve this, funding must be allocated to the purchasing and upgrading of technology, including better Wi-Fi systems and sound systems for outdoor events. Additional staff must also be hired or trained to meet the school’s IT needs. The technology at Aragon needs a better foundation to support student success academically and socially.
