Written by NCCE
As the new school year approaches, Justin Huntley, the Curriculum Administrator for Technology at Eugene 4J School District and a NCCE Regional Leader, is hard at work preparing resources to help teachers and students. We spent some time reflecting with Justin on his past and most recent back to school experiences. Justin is dedicated to supporting educators and students in his region, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology to make the first days of school memorable and impactful.
Making the First Day Count
Justin emphasizes the importance of making the first day of school engaging. Whether it’s a “Get to Know You” activity like an “All About Me” project, a collaborative escape room to review classroom expectations, or an immediate dive into subject material, the goal is to captivate students from the start.
Reflecting on his time as an AP History teacher, Justin shares how he used to have students read and interpret a segment of one of Abraham Lincoln’s State of the Union addresses. This exercise led to deep discussions about the philosophy and meaning of “What is History?” and culminated with students creating tweets as if they were historical figures. This innovative approach not only made history come alive but also set a dynamic tone for the rest of the course.
The Power of First Impressions
Justin recalls shadowing a student on the first day of school when he was a principal. He observed that in most classes, students were handed a syllabus and the teacher spent the class reading the rules and expectations. However, in a few classes, teachers conducted fun lessons or get-to-know-you activities. Unsurprisingly, these were the classes the student was excited about and looked forward to at the end of the day. Justin believes that even if technology isn’t used on the first day, it has immense potential to help build relationships with students and parents.
In their district they use Seesaw, Justin encourages teachers to send home a welcome note or video recording of themselves as an introduction to parents. To incentivize this, anyone who does is entered to win a swag bag and some coffee. This small gesture can make a big difference in building a positive rapport from the start.
Staying Current with AI and Emerging Tools
This year, Justin will be giving several presentations on the use of AI. Like many school leaders he and the technology department leaders have been discussing creating a committee to review current district guidance and potentially pilot a few programs to assess their viability. Staying current with the fast-changing landscape of educational technology is challenging but essential.
The district will have access to Gemini through their Google Workspace for Education subscription, so Justin has been familiarizing himself with it and other tools in Google Labs. They also use Canvas as their LMS, which is set to add Khanmigo and has already added Smart Search. Even Seesaw has added an AI assessment feature. Justin’s focus has been on staying updated with these tools and attuned to emerging trends. Justin shares ideas, tools, learning and inspiration through his newsletters with teachers in the district.
Back to School Update 2024 Smore
Professional Development and Inspiration
This summer, Justin attended several virtual professional development events, most recently Seesaw Connect. Adam Welcome’s keynote resonated with him, especially the quote: “We cannot continue to teach WiFi kids with landline strategies.” This emphasis on engagement and the use of technology to enhance student learning aligns perfectly with the principles Justin advocates in their district.
As the new school year begins, Justin Huntley is dedicated to embracing technology to create engaging, dynamic, and meaningful learning experiences. His efforts and insights are sure to inspire educators to make this year the best one yet.
Feel free to share your thoughts or any innovative ideas you have for the new school year in the comments below! Let’s make this year the best one yet.