(PSS) — The CNMI Public School System, through its Office of Instructional Technology and Distance Education, hosted a first-ever, two-day virtual 21st Century educational technology professional development conference. The conference featured acclaimed educator, author, and speaker, Matt Miller, Dr. Riya Nathrani, 2022 Teacher of the Year, and Jed Sta. Theresa, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School student leader and student representative to the CNMI Board of Education.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred Ada opened the event, extending his support and gratitude for the role that technology plays in improving the classroom experience of our students, saying, “We need to meet our learners where they are and use their platform, which is largely technology, to help them learn and grow.”
Retired Sgt. Maj. Herman Atalig, Board of Education member, extended his support as well, sharing, “I am excited and thrilled for the opportunity to see technology being used to support educators from public and private schools to truly prepare our students for the future.”
The highlights of the event were keynote speakers Dr. Riya Nathrani and Jed Sta. Theresa.
Dr. Nathrani took viewers on a journey to the past and the present and provided a pedagogical framework for using technology to enhance and support the work of educators.
Jed, a graduate of RHI, spoke about the role technology played in enhancing his school experience and impressed educators by showing how he has leveraged technology to support his learning about engineering and design through 3D printing.
He also showcased new technology innovations via virtual reality as he transformed into an avatar.
The educators of the CNMI from both public and private schools, covered a wide array of topics and tools that they can implement in their classrooms to improve their instruction and provide a more meaningful learning experience for students.
A total of 270 educators participated in the conference over the two days and many stayed engaged throughout the sessions.
Each day consisted of four sessions, with eight sessions in all.
Matt Miller showed teachers how they can successfully integrate technology, while also having them share how they use technology in different forms of instruction. Teachers learned new techniques, strategies, and practical ideas they can use to enhance the wealth of educational technology skills they already possess.
Dr. Bobby Cruz, PSS director of instructional technology and distance education, gave a futurist perspective on teaching and learning noting, “It’s been 30 plus years since the introduction of the World Wide Web, and now the age of information technology is coming to an end, and the Era of Technology Experience & Digital Citizenship begins as Generation Alpha is born. We move into a world of social media coupling with augmented reality, machine learning, and artificial intelligence that is advancing faster than we can keep pace. What will our classrooms look like and how do we ensure that the tenets and values of our identity as pacific islanders remain? As the technology gives our students access to the world, it also give the world access to our because home islands and leveraging technology in this reciprocal way is equally as important.”
Matt Miller
Dr. Alfred Ada
Dr. Bobby Cruz
Dr. Riya Nathrani
Jed Sta. Theresa
