Electronic Snow Days?

Over the course of the last week, educators from across Iowa met in the basement of the Coralville Public Library to explore additional techniques to integrate technology into Iowa classrooms without losing sight of traditional teaching methods.  Funded by a $2.7 million federal grant for the expansion of digital technology use in the classroom.  The integration of the “Communities of Practice and Innovation” (CoPi) in the Fall of 2011 will use English, math, science and social studies instructors in the pilot program to “break down the walls of the classroom,” by allowing “students to meet with other students who are not in the classroom,” (Carlson, 2011).

What does this mean for Iowa students?  Given the distinct possibility of a handful of snow days each school year for inclement weather, the pilot project could mean the elimination of snow days as students will have electronic access to classrooms across the state who may not be affected by the weather.  Students will be able to utilize online learning communities, similar to what many universities have been using to educate students for the past several years.  Of course there are many factors that need to be taken into account when implementing such a program.  How do families who cannot afford a computer or internet access benefit from the online learning community?  What happens when weather is so severe that power to homes is cut off and students do not have access to the electronic classrooms?  How do families with more than one child allow each child to participate?  Finally, how do school districts ensure parental and community support in the program?  As with regular classroom instruction, there will always be the handful of parents who do not value the importance of education and will not ensure that their children participate in the program.  Although I feel the program is innovative and could provide many potential benefits, the factors that could make it ineffective need to be analyzed to ensure a smooth and flawless implementation.

Carlson, M. (2011, June 24). E-curriculum could spell end to "snow days". Retrieved from http://thegazette.com/2011/06/24/e-curriculum-could-spell-end-to-snow-days/

Planning an end to school snow days. (2011, June 24). Retrieved from http://www.kcci.com/education/28348263/detail.html