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The district hosted Zachary Walker, a recipient of the 2012 Think College Emerging Scholar Award, for several days to speak to parents and faculty about issues facing education, according to a press release from the district. Walker, who currently resides in Singapore where he serves as a faculty member at the National Institute of Education, addressed the question "What does the digital revolution mean for education?"
"During his two evening sessions with parents, Dr. Walker discussed the implications that the mobile device upsurge has on education," representatives said in the release. "He specifically focused on the impact of smartphones and tablets and he offered practical and safe usage strategies for students, parents and teachers. Dr. Walker defines this generation as the 'Last Backpack Generation' because students entering school today are the last generation of learners that will need to carry backpacks to school."
Walker told parents that he "believes now is the time to concentrate on the understanding of context, synthesis, teamwork, multi-lingual and cultural communication and problem solving strategies," according to the release
“YouTube uploads 72 hours of content every minute,” he said in the release. “We must allow students to use these funds of knowledge. … We must learn to change and change to learn. A student entering school this year will retire in the year 2070-something.”
Walker suggested that the Katonah-Lewisboro School District "continue to upgrade their technological infrastructure, offer continuing professional development for those who are interested, and require those individuals to serve as mentors for other teachers," according to the release. About 200 teachers in the district are currently receiving training on school iPads, representatives said in the release.
To view Dr. Walker's presentation at JJMS, residents, visit the school district's website.
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