A Collaborative Embrace Between Technology and Instruction
SAN ELIZARIO, TEXAS - In the middle of March just as spring break was getting underway, everything changed. The San Elizario ISD found itself preparing to launch distance learning to approximately 3,400 students. Technology is present in normal day to day schooling environments but the district’s closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was making way for technology to be used as an inevitable method to provide instruction. While the district prepared and distributed hard copy instructional material for all students in the district, the use of technology by all students was also flourishing.
The COVID-19 changed a lot for many especially in public schools. San Elizario ISD Technology Director Horacio Hernandez states, “The COVID-19 pandemic brought a challenge to everybody. In our technology department, the COVID-19 situation meant that we needed to get ready with hardware, software, and internet connectivity in order to accomplish our instructional goal.” In San Elizario, the district had a mobile device distribution where approximately 2100 I-pads, chrome books, and laptops, were distributed at each campus throughout the district. In addition, with the approval of $141,130.00 by the San Elizario Board of Trustees on April 8, 2020, hotspots were purchased and now provide internet services to approximately 500 students.
Dr. Rogelio Segovia, assistant superintendent for San Elizario ISD, states, “The COVID-19 emergency closure definitely created a sense of urgency to not only transition from a traditional face-to-face instructional delivery approach, to a full online approach that allowed students to access the technology devices and an effective instructional delivery they deserve.” Technology not only impacted learning for students, it also caused teachers to make immediate turn around decisions on how to better connect with students. According to Hernandez, “Since the pandemic hit us during Spring Break, the district has adopted Google Suite to accomplish our distance learning goal. This included applications like Google Classroom, Google Docs, and Google Meets.”
The technology and instructional teams intensified the collaboration by providing teachers training to prepare to teach and reconnect with students online. Segovia, states, “Fortunately, we have an awesome team of educators, like our instructional officers, instructional specialists, coordinator of instructional programs, instructional technology director, campus leaders and teachers, among others, that have made it happen.”
In terms of hardware, the technology department worked to expedite repairs on teacher laptops. Hernandez states, “COVID-19 disrupted the “normal’ way of operating within the district; we had to adapt and adopt to the different needs due to the new norm of distance learning and we had to purchase software and hardware to better support staff, teachers, students, and parents remotely. We also had to embrace the at home concept and think different in ways of providing day-to-day support.” Looking back, he states “I am most proud of the support and unity. From principals, assistant principals, administrators, and IT personnel assisting in getting ready and distributing mobile devices to the board of trustees and leadership supporting the purchase of hotspots to provide students internet connection; everybody coming together to provide our teachers and students the best tools possible.”
As the year comes to an end and we continue in this pandemic situation, Hernandez states, “the only way is to keep evolving. Technology changes rapidly and as it changes, it is our responsibility here in IT to adapt at the same speed to keep providing the best tools and resources available to our district users.”
Pictured left to right Horacio Hernandez, Technolgy Director, Ernesto Siegel, Assistant Principal Alarcon Elementary, Dr. Rogelio Segovia, Assistant Superintendent, Joe Ochoa, Administrator-Database/Systems Technology, Instructional Specialist Rosario Rodriguez, Alyssa Padilla, and Loraine Coronado