Empower Student Voices Through Technology and Design Thinking

The Oklahoma Public School Resource Center is an affiliate member of SETDA, the national organization for education technology professionals. Each year, SETDA members nominate schools around the country that are using technology in innovative ways. The Student Voices Winner for 2019 was Mineola Middle School in Mineola, New York, a lower economic area on Long Island. In 2016, Superintendent Michael Nagler decided to move the district in a new direction, which included providing technology to students and having digital curriculum that district teachers created. They are focusing on design thinking, coding and making. They have added makerspaces and fab labs to allow their students to create. To learn more about what they are doing, watch these videos:

• Dr. Nagler’s 2016 overview of their projects‍
• A sample science lesson, featuring Dr. Nagler

At the November SETDA meeting, I was amazed by the middle school students who stood in front of 200 strangers and told us more about what they do at Mineola Middle School. If you would like to watch their presentation, it’s posted on the SETDA website (the second and third videos on the page).

At OPSRC, we want to help districts use technology and other tools to empower students. If you would like our help, just contact us.

Also, I would love to nominate a school for the 2020 SETDA Student Voices Award. I know there are many schools in Oklahoma with innovative programs and activities. Nominations will take place during the spring of 2020. Please let me know what you are doing and if you need more information.