By Katherine Palacio - Monsignor Edward Pace HS
MIAMI GARDENS | Ana Garcia, principal of Msgr. Edward Pace High School, presented a workshop at the March 11 Region 4 meeting of the National Catholic Educational Association, a meeting which was held at Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches.
Garcia’s presentation, “A new kind of textbook for a new kind of student,” focused on how Pace High faculty have researched the latest Web and tech tools available on their laptops and iPads to create original course content so that students can have all of their resources and materials at their disposal at any time.
After a year of faculty development and preparation, teachers at Pace High successfully integrated iPads into their curriculum, and also created original course content to replace the need for textbooks.
Pace High’s Rebeca Bautista, dean of academics, and Ricardo Machado, director of technology, also attended the regional meeting. Both have been integral to the creation of course materials as they have continued to research the latest technology available for educators and have even made their own iTunes U course and Twitter accounts for faculty to follow and learn from.
After such a smooth transition from the 2011-2012 school year to the complete integration of the iPad in 2012-2013, the Archdiocese of Miami superintendent of schools asked Pace High to serve as a mentor school for elementary and middle schools who are also in the process of integrating tablets into their curriculum.
While many high schools use tablets, such as the iPad, as supplemental materials, Pace High received special recognition for its faculty's innovative lessons and original course content, leading the regional director of the National Catholic Educational Association to reach out to Garcia to talk to her peers about the work her school has done.
The NCEA is a professional educational organization that works with Catholic schools and colleges, providing these institutions with educational resources about the Catholic faith and the mission of the Catholic Church, and serving as a community for these educators to gather and share their good works.
Garcia’s presentation, “A new kind of textbook for a new kind of student,” focused on how Pace High faculty have researched the latest Web and tech tools available on their laptops and iPads to create original course content so that students can have all of their resources and materials at their disposal at any time.
After a year of faculty development and preparation, teachers at Pace High successfully integrated iPads into their curriculum, and also created original course content to replace the need for textbooks.
Pace High’s Rebeca Bautista, dean of academics, and Ricardo Machado, director of technology, also attended the regional meeting. Both have been integral to the creation of course materials as they have continued to research the latest technology available for educators and have even made their own iTunes U course and Twitter accounts for faculty to follow and learn from.
After such a smooth transition from the 2011-2012 school year to the complete integration of the iPad in 2012-2013, the Archdiocese of Miami superintendent of schools asked Pace High to serve as a mentor school for elementary and middle schools who are also in the process of integrating tablets into their curriculum.
While many high schools use tablets, such as the iPad, as supplemental materials, Pace High received special recognition for its faculty's innovative lessons and original course content, leading the regional director of the National Catholic Educational Association to reach out to Garcia to talk to her peers about the work her school has done.
The NCEA is a professional educational organization that works with Catholic schools and colleges, providing these institutions with educational resources about the Catholic faith and the mission of the Catholic Church, and serving as a community for these educators to gather and share their good works.
Comments from readers
We, at Sts. Peter and Paul School, commend your dedication to innovation. May the Lord bless your talents!
Carlota E. Morales, Ed. D.
Principal