Using New Technologies

For this assignment, I decided to forego interviewing one of my colleagues and find someone new to interview.  Many of my colleagues do a lot of great things with new technologies, but I wanted to put myself out on a limb and really try to learn something new.  I flipped through Untangling theWeb and stopped on the section on Twitter and pinpointed Eric Sheninger, Principal at New Milford High School in New Jersey.  I emailed him with the questions and he promptly replied.  You can find his contact information at the bottom of this post.

As a principal, Mr. Sheninger has given his teachers autonomy in regards to the choosing and implementing of digital tools.  He gives his teachers time in the school day to develop their own skills and research new tools as well as promotes hands-on training at the Edscape Conference in New Milford.

Taking a seemingly laissez-faire approach towards utilizing new digital tools, the only real obstacle to face is parental permission.  Quite simply, the only requirement Mr. Sheninger asks of his teachers is to have students get their parents to sign a media permission form (page 2).  He shared that document with me in our correspondence and it seemed quite simple.  It was basically an affirmative or negative towards students publishing media (any format really) created within the district with the responsibility of appropriate use falling on the students and the acknowledgement that the district is not responsible for inappropriate use and/or content that is on the Internet.

Mr. Sheninger’s only advice for teachers wanted to replicate his efforts is to establish a Personal Learning Network (PLN).  By doing so, teachers share their ideas and successes for other teachers to benefit and continue a dialogue to improve the skills of all involved.  To explore this idea more, visit KQED’s blog on the top five PLNs.

Mr. Sheninger - @NMHS_Principal - EricSheninger.com - Blog

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