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Aerohive Networks New Learning Model

Aerohive invited me for a Webex discussion on their new software Student Manager. They published several case studies and the one that interested me is the Pender County school district Pender County school district with 17 schools located in Burgaw, NC. They have approximately 8,300 students and about 560 FTE teachers on staff. I scheduled a visit with Landon Scism, CTO, Pender County School District, on my summer road trip.

Aerohive Networks' Wi-Fi solution doesn't work with any other embedded Wi-Fi gear. That may be a deal stopper for some considering Wi-Fi but I wanted to find out more about the initial results when Pender County deployed Aerohive’s solution with 500 iTouch and 300 iPad Apple devices and then cited an 11% improvement in math proficiency scores.

Landon told me that, "Aerohive worked the first time and every time" under the demands of student access. He also said, "It's easy to use, set up with less steps and is intuitive." Landon went on to explain that Aerohive was less expensive than other solutions they evaluated. The cost model seems to revolve around not building additional computer labs in the schools and instead to put technology and learning tools in front of students. Landon said, "3,600 PCs range in age from 0–11 years and 2,200 of them are at least 6 years old." What they are doing is using a lower-cost entry for technology by using Apple devices and a Wi-Fi solution with security and enforcement. Landon also commented on their early trials using iTouch, iPad and Droids, and both teachers and students found Apple products easier to use. Landon went on to explain that the students are playing games on the Apple devices.

Initially, I thought using online games may just be something of a novelty until I asked my daughter. "Dad, we used those games back in middle school." Up the chain of command I went to my wife (a teacher) and she said thus far their school is not using this technology. However, they started using Elmo, a document camera introduced to her school about two years ago; but not Wi-Fi. I also knew about the Thin Client reading Lab our IT partner deployed a couple of years earlier for one of our customers that is a Blue Ribbon School. Then I found the MIT paper, Using the Technology Today, in the Classroom and the authors write:

Every day, many students are spending countless hours immersed in popular technologies--such as Facebook or MySpace, World of Warcraft, or Sim City--which at first glance may seem like a waste of time, and brain cells. But these genres of technologies--Social Networking, Digital Gaming, and Simulations—deserve a second, deeper, look at what’s actually going on.

Landon said, "Teachers must engage the kids." The school district uses educational games such as DimensionM (pre-algebra/algebra), SIMS (creates and compares characters to compose English essays) and Minecraft (teaches collaboration/cooperation). The kids and teachers like using Apple devices. The games used as an educational tool to engage the kids and the soft benefit is attendance--kids are coming to school (to play the games). Teachers use the games to directly connect to the curriculum. As a result, student test scores improved. The other value is that the games do teach life skills such as cooperation, collaboration, higher-order thinking, problem solving, and the experience is fun.

Here are some lessons for Educators:

* Adopt easy and fun-to-use technology
* Employ games that teach cooperation and collaboration and builds confidence
* Use technology that targets the different learning styles of students and then engages them on their level
* Building and maintaining expensive computer labs in the schools may not be in your best interests

Now, for those who don't understand the struggles in schools today, including the tensions between Administrators and staff: AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress are the metrics established by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. AYP is, in part, a source of that tension coupled with demands that student test scores be directly associated with teacher pay. Whatever your opinion on the subject, I think what Landon told me is key advice for Administrators. Landon said, "Use data as a tool to help teachers, not punish."

I think the use of technology in this approach with schools is more than interesting. As a parent I'd be very happy in any improvements with my daughter’s education and performance. In the MIT paper, the authors write something that rings true: "Children are establishing a relationship to knowledge gathering which is alien to their parents and teachers."

Understanding how educators and administrators can use technology is just as important as understanding the technology.

Resources

How Minecraft is Used in Classrooms
Holly Area School District Case Study
New Study Finds Children Age Zero to Six Spend As Much Time With TV, Computers and Video Games As Playing Outside
Pender County School District Case Study
Union School District Case Study