Educators explore technology for classroom

More than 100 educators from across Long Island on Friday examined ways to incorporate technology into the classroom, from equipping libraries to handle e-readers to managing student use of smartphones for educational purposes.

The conference, called PadCampLI, was a first for this area, held at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus in Brookville.

"Kids are already using technology, and technology is everywhere," said Bette Schneiderman, a professor in the College of Education and Information Sciences and a coordinator of the event. "The question is . . . What do we do with it and for what purpose?"

The event was devoted to exploring the use of tablets, e-readers and other handheld devices in education. It was modeled after a PadCamp held in Galloway Township, N.J., last summer.

Organizers termed the event an "unconference" because participants set the agenda.

Dan Rehman, principal of West Hempstead High School, participated in a presentation on how to have students create their own content in the classroom using electronic devices, such as publishing an e-book. The school has ordered 75 iPads for classroom use.

"I want to give them more ownership over their learning. Instead of getting a lecture from the teacher in the front of the room, I want them to create content, create learning experiences in conjunction with the teacher," he said.

Educators said changes are taking place outside the classroom as well.

Instead of serving as warehouses of books, public school libraries are becoming more like media centers. For example, the Searingtown School library in the Herricks district gives K-5 students access to digital resources from home and also lends out e-readers.

"What we want to be able to do in our libraries is have our resources -- whether they are books, Internet resources, digital books, digital textbooks or whatever -- available to them wherever they are 24-7," said Searingtown librarian Karen Kliegman.