Notre Dame technology takes center stage next month

On February 12, NDPMA to host area schools interested in learning about its advanced academic technology.

Notre Dame was named a Microsoft Associate Showcase School in 2016 and a Microsoft Showcase School in 2017, joining only 60 other schools in the U.S. recognized for education technology. Tablets in the classrooms of all three divisions of NDPMA are as ubiquitous as no.-2 pencils once were.

Almost a year to the day of last year's event, Notre Dame will once again host a "Microsoft Showcase Event" that will demonstrate to a number of other area schools the advanced technology integration the school uses in its day-to-day academic operations.

According to Eden Konja, who is director of information and academic technology for NDPMA, the Showcase Event, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 12, and jointly sponsored by Microsoft and Notre Dame, will consist of an overview of the school’s 1-to-1 program, a tour of the school and a special student technology panel, which will conduct a Q&A afterward for those attending.

"While last year's event, which was held Feb. 16, included only Catholic schools, this year's showcase will be attended by private and public schools," Konja said.

Zachary Muma, a business sales specialist with Microsoft, said the Feb. 12 organic classroom experience will offer educators an opportunity to explore a variety of different platforms, including Minecraft for Education, innovative computer science classes, device/system management, and Microsoft Office such as OneNote in the Classroom.

"Your local Microsoft team has put together an agenda that will allow attendees to ask questions and explore new opportunities in an open forum, while also giving schools a chance to share their experiences, including Notre Dame," Muma said. "All grade levels are encouraged to attend and lunch will be provided."

Showcase school

In 2017, NDPMA was named a Showcase School by Microsoft, which highlights innovative leading and teaching across globally recognized schools. As a Showcase School, Notre Dame was recognized as a leader in personalized learning, amplified by 1:1 deployments effectively using Microsoft solutions (e.g. Surface, Office 365, Office Mix, OneNote, Skype), to enable anywhere, anytime education for all students.

Last year, Jennifer Draper, who was a Microsoft business specialist and was on hand for the 2017 Showcase event, said NDPMA has been well out in front of its peers in integrating tech into the classroom.

“Notre Dame is by far a leader in the 1:1 technology arena, and that they are so open and willing to share with local schools is a testament to them putting children and learning first,” she said.

Draper also said that the school has been unusually active in getting just the right technology into students’ hands.

Notre Dame is using Apple iPads in its lower division, while the middle and upper divisions use Microsoft Surface tablets. The school also invested in a learning-management system to streamline the addition of all the devices into the classrooms.

“Notre Dame and Eden Konja in particular have been very thoughtful and engaged partners,” she said. “Our goal is to provide the highest level of service and training to Notre Dame, and we see that same level of dedication and interest observing how Eden and his team interact with their clients, the faculty, staff, students and families of Notre Dame.”

As leader of the NDPMA's technology operations, Konja, along with the school’s network administrator, Jason Borngesser, and staff members Eleanor McCaskey and Melissa York, is overseeing all technical aspects of the school. According to Konja, his team's main responsibilities include the overall management, planning, organizing and execution of all IT functions at the school, which includes PowerSchool Learning, NetClassroom and the school’s critical online-enrollment application.

Tentative agenda for Microsoft Showcase Event (Feb. 12):
• Intro session – boardroom (10:30 – 11:15) Schools/attendees introduce themselves, define where they are on the tech spectrum, where they’d like to be, and what one or two tangible targets they’d like to hit this year/first half of next.
• Classroom tour (11:15 – 12:00) Highlight students and faculty interacting utilizing OneNote, Office365 and other Microsoft applications.
• Lunch and student panel – boardroom (12:00 – 1:00) Attendees will have opportunity to ask NDPMA students about how the incorporation of technology has changed their learning, plus any questions that were generated while touring classrooms.
• Wrap up with a debrief – boardroom (1:00 – 1:30)

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.

About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.