Notre Dame’s IT function has been in particular focus over the past several years as major hardware and software upgrades were implemented throughout the school’s three divisions.
Now, with more than 1,300 computer devices and an average of 450 gigabytes of network traffic traveling through the organization every school day, Notre Dame is a major hub of academic technology that rivals many other schools with much larger enrollments.
Eden Konja, director of information and academic technology at the school, confirms that NDPMA occupies a leadership role in technology, particularly information technology, which is vital to the uninterrupted operation of all three Notre Dame divisions.
“Earlier in the past school year, we earned the distinction of being named a Microsoft Associate Showcase School, one of only 60 in the U.S.,” he said. “This gives NDPMA a global-scale recognition as an innovative school with a strong leadership vision for change. Technology is always moving quickly and we should be open to learning and understanding its use in our school.”
Because of this quickly moving technology and the ever-increasing reliance on it in Notre Dame classrooms, Konja wanted to get a more accurate reading about how all of it is being accepted by those who are using it: the students.
“I conducted a survey near the end of the school year for students in Grades 6 through 12,” he said. “I really wanted to get the vibe from students on how they felt about the devices and technology as well as the level of support provided by NDPMA.”
He said he wanted to focus on understanding the “how” and “what” from students in regards to having their own device to use in and out of school, plus he wanted to hear about their experience and issues with the schools 1:1 device program. He received a respectable 311 responses from students with the 10th graders providing the highest response rate.
“Of the students that responded, the 10 graders had the highest response rate with 23.2%, followed by 9th graders at 20%,” Konja said.
He said one of the biggest things he wanted to hear about from students was what they thought needed to improve to better the 1:1 device program.
“That included the technical services and educational technologies provided such as Wi-Fi connections, internet access, technical support and Haiku learning,” he said. “In addition, I also wanted to know how they were using the surface tablets and if they met their needs. This included finding out if the technology actually empowered our students to take control of their own learning.”
Much of the results are available below in chart form, and Konja said there were some surprising and not-so-surprising things that came out of his survey.
“I’m not surprised they said they enjoy using a device in the classroom and how many have altered how they learn by using this technology,” he said. “The majority seem to be using Microsoft OneNote software to take notes on their device. And 95.7% of the students found that at some level the Microsoft Surface tablet met their educational technology needs. They also seem to enjoy using them with Quizlet, an assessment tool that allows students to respond to class questions with their device.”
Konja added that when asked if they felt they could use the device more or less in class to support their learning, 61% of them stated it was “just right.”
“But I was surprised to find out about the overall technology skills that our students thought they themselves possessed: 45.5% said they had an intermediate level of tech skills, 29.7% advanced and 17.1% expert,” Konja said. “Very few thought of themselves as novices or beginners. When I do this survey again next year, I would like to see how much these numbers change as students get more comfortable using their Surface tablet every day in school.”
Konja also said he was glad to find out students were favorable towards Haiku learning and that the IT department has been providing satisfactory support.
“I am still going through all the written comments and feedback the students provided in the survey,” he said. “They do have some valid concerns and we hope to find resolutions to as many as possible. Overall, I am very satisfied with what the survey said and we will continually strive to improve technology services and support for everyone at NDPMA.”
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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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." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, 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.