Enhanced Learning for Spartans of All Ages

Steward students play an active role in shaping the future. They learn and grow through foundational skills, innovative problem-solving, and hands-on learning. And, with the guidance of dedicated teachers, plus up-to-the-minute technology, they explore new ways of seeing the world. 

The Steward School recently upgraded its student devices and classroom technology, giving students increased opportunities to discover, research, and collaborate. Spartans of all ages will experience a “tech-tacular” year! 

Students in junior kindergarten through eighth grade will be issued new iPads at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Shahwar Qureshi ’90, director of technology at Steward, is excited about this tech update and the advantages it offers. 

“The new iPads are equipped with the latest technology,” she said. “The 10.2 retina display on these devices, for example, gives a super-sharp, smooth resolution. Students will have an easier time reading text, and an A13 bionic chip enables fast graphics performance and lower power consumption than previous models.”   

An 8-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera on the new iPads will enable students to dive deeper into their studies. Young scientists can record their experiments, for example, and view the details of their investigations when they play back the professional-quality video. “Plus, the angle of the front camera will adjust automatically,” noted Ms. Qureshi. “Imagine taking a photo of a work by Monet and zooming in to see not just brush strokes but each bristle’s impact on the painting.”

New interactive ViewSonic flat panels have been installed in classrooms within all divisions. With 75-inch 4K ultra high-definition displays, the panels can transform learning. 

“Multiple users can write or draw on the screen simultaneously with their fingers or with styluses,” said Ms. Qureshi. “Picture a classroom lesson — theatre, math, social studies; the sky’s the limit — in which students can write on the flat panel, upload images and files, and team up for school projects. This is a fantastic collaborative tool.” The panels use ViewSonic’s myViewBoard software, a digital whiteboarding solution that increases interactivity. Audio, video, and photos added to the board can be annotated, adding an extra dimension to learning and instruction.

The panels also feature handwriting recognition: Teachers can convert what they write into text and shape recognition. 

“Shape recognition is a real ‘wow’ feature,” said Ms. Qureshi, “as the panels can convert a sloppily drawn shape, such as a circle, into a perfect shape.” The ViewSonic panels also boast an endless whiteboard: By shifting the screen in a different direction, users get more blank space. 

Lower School students’ engineering lessons and projects will be bolstered through the use of LEGO Spike, a robotics kit designed to teach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) concepts through hands-on learning and coding. 

“LEGO Spike utilizes a modular building system, allowing students to build a variety of robots and mechanical devices using LEGO bricks and elements,” said Ms. Qureshi. “The core component is the Spike Prime Hub, a programmable device. The kit includes motors and sensors that enable robots to interact with their environment. This is an interactive, state-of-the-art way to complement STEM learning.” LEGO Spike uses a Scratch-based coding platform, which allows students to create their own stories, games, and animations. “The beauty of a Scratch-based programming language is that it is accessible for beginners while also offering more advanced programming options for experienced users,” added Ms. Qureshi. 

Steward faculty regularly engage in professional development to keep up with best practices and trends and to exchange ideas. Inspired, they bring their new knowledge back to the classroom.

During the 2024-25 academic year, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in a new program called SAIL (Steward AI Leaders Program) to supplement teaching, foster creativity, and engage students. The program, created and developed by Ms. Qureshi, aims to boost learning with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. SAIL-certified faculty will guide students in understanding how AI can be thoughtfully incorporated into the school experience. 

Faculty who wish to be SAIL certified will develop at least two projects or lesson plans for their classrooms that support existing curriculum goals using AI or require students to use AI for a project. Teachers will also complete training modules, present their projects at a quarterly meeting on campus, and submit at least one proposal to an off-campus conference. “Faculty development is a hallmark of Steward, where we equip teachers with the best methods to deepen learning,” noted Ms. Qureshi.

Upper School Technology Facilitator Erin Springfield and Upper School Computer Science & Innovation Teacher Angela Coppola led Steward’s AI Strategic Plan committee, which met regularly throughout the 2023-24 academic year. One of the guideposts of the Compass 2028: Inspire the Future Strategic Plan is to take a proactive approach to develop assignments that incorporate generative AI but amplify human input. 

“Artificial Intelligence is a versatile tool for teachers to personalize learning for their students,” said Ms. Coppola. “It allows teachers to gain valuable insight into their curricula and enhance the classroom experience.”