Chambana Sun

In partnership with a University of Illinois and University of Chicago research program, Kenwood Elementary School is experimenting with ways to integrate computing skills into regular math instruction.

The $550,000 Track 1 Exploratory Integration Project will begin by implementing technology to accomplish the goals of the Everyday Mathematics program already being taught to kindergarten through sixth-grade students. Researchers said introducing computing as an integrated part of core classes benefits students not only because they learn a new skill, but because it increases the speed of classroom activity, allowing more learning in a limited block of time.

“Computing education is literacy for the 21st century, and that’s why we have to provide it in all grades and to as broad a range of students as possible,” University of Illinois Director of the Office of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education George Reese said. “There are lessons we’ve learned in terms of how kids learn math that we can apply to how kids learn computing. We know that kids learn best when they’re allowed to engage in social learning around big ideas.”

In addition to integrated activities, all Kenwood students take a 40- to 60-minute computing class each week.

Kenwood staff said technology also helps engage students in ways traditional instructional educational models do not.

“Collaboration is something that’s encouraged," Kenwood's computer science teaching specialist and instructional coach Todd Lash said. "It’s ‘We’d like you to talk to your peers and build things together,’ instead of ‘Sit quietly in your seat and work on this,’” Lash said. “The kids are super-engaged. It appeals to pretty much every kid, and they’re very engrossed. They really like the idea that if you get stuck on something, you have to take the problem apart, reiterate on it and get immediate feedback.”

Researchers will examine the impact of the high-tech learning models through testing early next year.