>> on thel -r. Hillel second-graders Aviel Siegel, Nathan Moral and Mia Mechnikov touch Torah parchment with Rabbi Zvi Pincus. Hillel meshes Jewsh learning with 21st-century technology. Keri Guten Cohen I Story Development Editor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "The Torah is who we are — everything Jewish comes from that text:' Freedman said. "How beautiful to combine who we are with 21st-century education:' 1:1 Technology "We take pride in being progressive and at the forefront of what educational research says is good for students:' Freedman said. "We did a year of research before we decided tablet PCs were the best way to go for students. They are stronger [than Apple products] in supporting Hebrew software:' Marilyn Mossman, director of technol- ogy, said, "We took our time and looked at all options. We let the decision be driven by the curriculum:' The tablet PCs allow students to have a personal laptop computer as well as a touchscreen tablet that uses a stylus. Teachers had their hands on the devices last winter and had six to eight months to become well versed in them before the students received theirs this fall. "We are helping each other:' Mossman said. "The teachers are also learning from the students:' The tablets are made by Lenovo and cost about $1,400 each. Freedman says all 105 students in the 7-8 division of the school have them. In The Classroom Jessica Stempek is a language arts teacher for the 7-8 division. Not only are her stu- dents reading texts online, but they are Skyping with classrooms in India as they study the evolution of writing; they have interviewed specialists about ancient cave writing in that country. They also are read- 12 November 15 • 2012 ing the same books as other classrooms in different countries and communicating with those students. "Technology is bringing the world to our classrooms:' Freedman said. Stempek says the students also are doing collaborative writing using Google Docs. "They can go home, and I can help them by computer with editing:' she said. "There's a wealth of Jewish texts avail- able on the computer:' said Rabbi Jonathan Berger, rabbi-in-residence. "You can call up on screen all sorts of texts, like the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum:' Students use Microsoft OneNote, synch- ing software that includes digital binders, planners and note-taking devices that teachers can access at all hours. "It's a tremendous organizational tool:' Berger said. "Students who have lost papers now know exactly where they are. The excuse now would have to be the dog ate my stylus." And students now have more time in the classroom to interact with each other and their teachers because some class- rooms now are "flipped:' In math, students can watch 15 minutes of a lecture at home, take notes and review, and then do their homework in the classroom where the teachers is available to help. "The computers maximize the time we have in class:' Stempek said. "We can access and edit work together on the com- puter, and then they have more individual time to write. It's faster than in the class- room:' Eighth-grader Jacob Edelson loves his tablet PC. "It lets us do more things and it's easier to be prepared; nothing gets lost and it's easier to show teachers your work:' he said. "You have more time to learn and it's more fun:' Joey Greenstein, another eighth-grader, likes that he doesn't take as much time fixing mistakes in math because he just deletes and starts over — no messy eras- ing. Eighth-grader Miles Menuck is a poster boy for the tablet PC. "I have the worst handwriting in the world and I'm horrible at organization; he said. "With the tablet, I'm much more organized and connected. With OneNote, it's seamlessly easy. I can even set alerts to remind me of things I have to do:' Jill Menuck, Miles' mother, also is a fan. She's happy he no longer has to juggle heavy textbooks, and says it's good for stu- dents' self-esteem. "The students feel like they are really progressive and modern at Hillel, even though they are learning ancient texts in the most modern way:' she said. "The school has always been on the cutting edge of technology. We went to look at Birmingham Groves High School, and they don't even have Smart Boards:' Into The Future Freedman recently sent parents a letter outlining the technological expansions planned for the school, accelerated by a grant from a private foundation, and mak- ing Hillel the most tech-savvy elementary school in the area. Students in grades K-2 will begin using iPads this week. An iPad cart has been purchased and will be shared by class- rooms. In the coming weeks, 5-6 division teachers, along with specialty teachers and leadership team members, will being tab- let PC training. In January, it is expected that the Early Childhood Center staff and K-4 division teachers will receive their tablet PCs and begin training. An additional iPad cart will be purchased for ECC 4s and K-2. In the fall of 2013, every student in grades 5-6 should have tablet PCs. Robotics also will be introduced in grades 5-8 as part of the school's commitment to its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education initiative. Freedman emphasizes that along with technology comes responsibility. Tablets are monitored to ensure students use tech- nology appropriately and ethically. "Tech literacy and safety are part of our curricu- lum:' he said. "In today's world, children need to learn knowledge and discern knowledge he said. "Students need to know that not all information they find is accurate or trust- worthy. We are teaching them to question:' Freedman again comes around to the school's Sefer Torah campaign that meshes the two worlds of technology and Judaism so well. "It all comes together beautifully:' he said. "The success of the meaningful Torah Campaign will ensure the long-term stabil- ity of the technology program:' ❑ To participate in the writing of the Sefer Torah, contact Cheryl Schanes at cschanes@hillelday. org, call (248) 539-1488 or go to www.hillelday. orgIsefer torah. Frankel Jewish Academy Receives Technology Grant F rankel Jewish Academy has received a grant of $500,000 from an anonymous funder that will enable the school to launch its long-planned digital learning project: Bridging Teens Through Jewish Digital Learning. Rabbi Eric Grossman, head of school, said, "The selection of Frankel Jewish Academy and the green-lighting of our project will have long-reaching impact for FJA students and Jewish students in the Detroit community and beyond." Patti Shayne, director of technology, said, "Since our first year, we have been at the forefront of integrating technology into the classroom. Last year's distribution of iPads to every FJA student reflected this ongoing commitment." The grant gives FJA the financial wherewithal to develop digital learning programs that tap into Jewish source materials, Hebrew language, and Jewish culture and identity.