The Alternative Press

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ - Saturday, March 2, was all about using technology in the classroom at the second annual Technology Symposium, We-Tech 2013, at West Essex Regional High School in North Caldwell. Over 145 teachers, administrators and members of the public spent the day attending workshops and learning the latest information in technology which many educators then planned to bring back to the classroom and share with their students.

The event was broadcast live on Teachercast.net featuring host Jeffrey Bradbury. Bradbury interviewed West Essex Superintendent of Schools Barbara Longo and Spanish Teacher Raquel Williams. It was Williams who proposed the event to Longo last year; Longo then appointed an administrative committee which planned the event.


Left to right: West Essex High School Spanish Teacher Raquel Williams,
Superintendent of Schools Barbara Longo and Teachercast.net’s Jeff Bradbury  
Credit: Allison Freeman

Longo welcomed everyone to WeTech13 and said she hopes that the event brings everyone in attendance to “the forefront of technology in education.” She added, “I hope you take this important knowledge with you, share it with your colleagues and apply the wonderful tools and strategies you have learned in your classrooms.”

Spotswood Schools Superintendent Scott Rocco, the keynote speaker for We-Tech, talked to event goers about “Rethinking Leadership Through Social Media,” during a roundtable in the West Essex High School Library. “Educators must use technology to better engage students and improve student learning,” Rocco expressed.


Spotswood Schools Superintendent Scott Rocco  Credit: Allison Freeman

“What is happening in technology today is actually  amazing,” said Rocco to his audience in the West Essex High School Auditorium. “Technology innovations in education must improve student learning and make what we do more efficient and effective.”

Following breakfast and the keynote address, WE-Tech participants spent the day attending three different workshops of their choosing as well as a student panel discussion on technology.

The panel of seven West Essex High School freshman gave their suggestions on how teachers can improve technology in the classroom and answered questions from the audience.


The student panel at We-Tech, from left to right, top row, Andrew Rubinich of
Fairfield, moderator Lisa Thumann, WE-Tech Committee Chair Raquel Williams,
Andrew Levey of North Caldwell, Christine Hagelin of Fairfield, and bottom row, Jackie Thomas of Roseland, Rachel Hamburger of Roseland, Brianna Anderson of North Caldwell and Evan Snerson of North Caldwell.  Credit: Allison Freeman

Andrew Rubinich of Fairfield, who hopes to become an English or business teacher, said he would like to see more teachers “utilize devices  that students can control for themselves.” He said it would benefit students if more teachers used Edmodo which allows students to submit work online.

Evan Snerson of North Caldwell said he would also encourage teachers to set up Facebook groups for their classes where students could ask questions or even play some online review games before a test.

Workshops included a range from “A Year in the Cloud, “to “Mastering the iPad,” to “Animation & Digital Storytelling.”  West Essex Teacher Bonnie Jing presented a workshop on “Best Practices: LiveBinders” at WE-Tech.
 

West Essex Teacher Bonnie Jing   Credit: Allison Freeman

Before an iPad workshop, Laura Drago, the school’s supervisor of Social Studies and World Languages had an opportunity to meet with Gina Altiero, a teacher in Ramsey, who is also a West Essex parent and lives in North Caldwell. 


West Essex Supervisor of Social Studies & World Languages Laura Drago and Gina
Altiero, a teacher in Ramsey  Credit: Allison Freeman

West Essex Science Supervisor Liz Ricafort took notes on her iPad during one of the tech workshops.

West Essex Science Supervisor Liz Ricafort   Credit: Allison Freeman

Teachers also enjoyed learning from each other. West Essex High School Chinese Teacher Cynthia Ni attended Biology Teacher Daniela Colabelli’s workshop on “Mastering the iPad.”


West Essex High School Chinese Teacher Cynthia Ni and Biology Teacher Daniela
Colabelli  Credit: Allison Freeman

During her workshop on “Aligning Smart Notebook Activities with the Common Core,” West Essex Middle School Teacher Natalie Franzi answered questions from Special Education Teacher Gabriel Bauer and Middle School Choral Director and Music Teacher Donna Mateyka.


West Essex Middle School Teacher Natalie Franzi behind Special Education Teacher
Gabriel Bauer and Choral Director and Music Teacher Donna Mateyka  
Credit: Allison Freeman

The core of the West Essex We-Tech Planning Committee was made up of West Essex Technology Coordinator Debra Martin, Spanish Teacher Raquel Williams, Librarian Rosemary Rich and Middle School Librarian Catherine Spinella.

Left to right, West Essex Technology Coordinator Debra Martin, West Essex High
School Spanish Teacher Raquel Williams, West Essex High School Librarian
Rosemary Rich and West Essex Middle School Librarian Catherine Spinella.  Credit: Allison Freeman

Pomptonian Food Service, the West Essex Regional School District food service, provided breakfast and lunch for the event. Other Platinum sponsors, $500 and up, were ADP, and imac Insurance Agency. Keyotel was a Gold sponsors of  $250 and Silver sponsors, with donations of $100 and up, were ShopRite of West Caldwell, Stop & Shop of West Caldwell, StenoTech Career Institute and Tom Drago Landscaping.


For further information:
West Essex High School and Middle School
65 West Greenbrook Road
North Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-228-1200
Email
Website
Facebook Page:  West Essex Regional School District