Integrating Technology Through Project Based Learning in Newark Public Schools

During the 2009-2010 school year, the Special Education Department in Newark Public Schools in New Jersey initiated an “Integrating Technology through Project-Based Learning Pilot Program” in the Samuel L. Berliner School (Berliner School). The pilot utilized SAFARI Montage, customized project based learning activities, and job-embedded professional development.

My organization, TechKNOW Associates, was founded by a core group of New York City veteran teachers and administrators who pioneered the integration of project based curriculum aligned to standards, and mentored and modeled theses programs with New York City teachers in their classrooms. Over the past 10 years, thousands of teachers and tens of thousands students in public school classrooms around the country have benefited from TechKNOW Associates’ customized approach to integrating technology with carefully crafted project based activities specific to district and classroom needs. The cornerstone of TechKNOW Associates’ services is the professional development and project‐based learning (PBL) designed to specifically address the needs of teachers to engage students to learn through the effective use of 21st century skills using 21st century tools.

TechKNOW Associates professional development programs provide PBL designed to specifically address the needs of the individual teacher to engage his or her students to learn through the effective use of existing technology in the classroom. The PBL methodology used is thematic and engaging, inquiry and product based, and centered around essential questions utilizing differentiated learning, rubrics, assessments and multidisciplinary learning correlated to State and District standards.

The purpose of the pilot at Berliner School was to determine how SAFARI Montage technology and the activities from various SAFARI Montage PBL modules, coupled with in-class professional development, affected the attitudes and growth of special needs students, and the manner in which teachers provided instruction to these students.

Berliner School is not typical of Newark Public Schools. There are only 40+ K-8 students at the school, and class size is very small. The students are extremely socially and emotionally challenged, and these challenges have interfered with their academic success. At the beginning of the pilot, there were some concerns. Many of the teachers were reluctant to try PBL, because it inherently requires transferring some of the ownership for learning and even structure in the classroom to the students. They feared that the change in structure would precipitate student behavior issues. In addition, there was a big gap in comfort-level and experience with technology integration among the teachers. As a result, the pilot would not have been successful, was it not for the visible support from the administration who made the pilot a priority for the school, teachers and students. Teachers soon began to see results within their classrooms. The videos from the SAFARI Montage library were engaging to students, and students enjoyed researching and creating their own learning playlists. Students were encouraged to comment and discuss ideas, ask questions, and collaborate with peers in a way that was less frustrating and less potentially volatile than communicating in person. In a short time, students and teachers became more and more enthusiastic about using SAFARI Montage and working on their projects. Teachers were amazed to find incidents of behavior actually decreased during project time and students began to demonstrate pride in their work.

The pilot program ended with students demonstrating what they learned during a prescheduled Presentation Day. At Presentation Day, the students amazed their administrators and teachers by behaving as actively engaged participants, listening to other classes present, and speaking in front of an audience. The principal was so impressed he proudly entered one of the classes into the annual Newark Technology Expo. This was one of those rare times that the Berliner School had participated in an event that was not specifically for special needs students. As a result, everyone was elated and surprised when the Berliner School won first place.

Principal, administrators and teachers repeatedly indicated that participating in this project had an amazing positive impact on both students and teachers. Teachers who originally resisted the pilot because they thought it would be too much work or get in the way of their curriculum, saw that using the SAFARI Montage technology and giving students a project through which they could choose how to communicate their learning, were soon clamoring for more. Teachers who weren’t involved in the pilot wanted to be involved and students who previously hadn’t cared about school became enthusiastic and animated when they were speaking about their work. They seemed to light up from within.

Suffice to say, the pilot with Newark Public Schools was a huge success and upon its completion Newark Public Schools is planning to bring SAFARI Montage and project based learning to other schools in the district.  The combination of SAFARI Montage, customized project based learning activities and job-embedded professional development is a powerful one and we look forward to sharing it with other schools and districts around the country.