Equipping Schools with Tech: Interview with Eric Sheninger

Written on November 18, 2009 – 12:41 am | by Shelly Terrell

Given: In order to prepare students for their futures schools should teach students to effectively use technology?

Problem: How do we equip our schools with technology?

Technology is a part of our lives whether we have embraced it or not. However, one problem to integrating technology effectively into the curriculum is the lack of technology. Educators need innovative ideas on how to help their low-income students gain access to technology in order to even the playing field.

Ideas, Please!

In this respect, Eric Sheninger, the principal of New Milford High School, is a forerunner in the field. He is a principal who has discovered creative ways to equip his teachers and students with state of the art technology, such as a multimedia lab and mobile Ipod learning lab.

How did he accomplish this?

In my interview with Eric, he describes how he has come out in various media outlets, which have donated thousands to his school to fund the technology projects. These media outlets include pitching his school to a reality TV show, performing radio interviews, and guest starring in TV shows. If you are not keen on the idea of appearing in a TV show for your school, Eric suggests applying for grants and seizing opportunities you read about or at conferences you attend. These opportunities can be educational contests or asking companies to donate their technologies. Eric also suggests applying for grants.

Effective Integration of Technology

Today, Eric will continue his mission to promote the effective use of technology in schools by doing an interview for LA’s 1010WINS radio show. You can listen to audio clips from the radio show, which were collected by Steven Anderson. In the clips, you hear how Eric’s teachers and students use Twitter to learn, share resources, collaborate globally, and build a professional learning network.

If only all schools had principals as passionate as Eric Sheninger!