On the agenda for this first meeting are the IWB (interactive whiteboard), the Scolaweb project, a teaching site in Spanish, class blogs, the “school beyond walls” platform, and the use of the iPad in class.
This meeting will bring together teachers and administrators from both the public and private sectors as well as teachers, facilitators, students, and parents.
Interview with Christian Jacomino
Nice Premium: Christian Jacomino, why this meeting, on Wednesday, about digital tools for the school?
Christian Jacomino: Because the mission of our Voix Haute workshop is to promote reading and French literary culture, as well as new technologies. Both tradition and modernity. For several years now, the General Council has been supporting us on this path, and we have acquired expertise that we wish to share.
NP: What role, in your opinion, does digital technology play in schools in Nice and France?
CJ: We are somewhat behind, no doubt about it. But it must be said that the upheaval is considerable. Digital technologies are revolutionizing our relationship with culture. We saw it with the music industry, then with the film industry. Now it’s the book’s turn. And they will certainly revolutionize, in a very short time, our educational practices too. We are shifting from a mass industry to a global network better suited to the needs and talents of each individual. Teachers are no longer prisoners of textbooks. They can adapt national programs much more freely and precisely. They choose from software created by workshops like ours. These digital tools are very affordable. Moreover, they circulate and improve constantly.
NP: How do you approach the arrival of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) in classrooms, and what do they concretely bring?
CJ: There is a misconception that computers alone can replace parents and teachers. A child only learns through interaction with other human beings. And the merit of the IWB is that it allows better collaboration. It promotes interaction within the group. But the same applies to other digital tools, like the iPad. We have been experiencing this since the start of the school year. Kids love reading in pairs or even in threes on an iPad.
It is still necessary to provide them with texts prepared for this purpose. We call ours “Word Mills”. Children turn their blades and thus learn classic poems.
NP: Your school was one of the pilot schools for the Scolaweb project in Nice. What is your opinion after this test?
CJ: The program has the dual merit of fostering cooperation between schools and giving each team the greatest freedom. The digital era is one of trust and responsibility. Scolaweb assists educational teams. From year to year, it will undoubtedly promote countless initiatives from field actors. And it does this in a spirit of friendship and trust.
NP: In your opinion, does Nice stand out as a good student in the “digitization” of its schools and classes?
CJ: Of course. Nice is a dynamic city. Nostalgia is not cultivated here. But we need to move faster and further. Two pieces of advice:
Wi-Fi in all schools, and laptops instead of desktops. This way, we will achieve significant savings on software costs, and we will see teachers taking computers home to better serve their students.
NP: Finally, this meeting is organized by Voix Haute. Can you tell us more about this concept?
CJ: Our concept is about the encounter. Between primary school, middle school, and high school teachers. Between teachers from public schools and those from private schools. With, additionally, the collaboration of students, educators, association leaders, and parents. Our workshop is concerned with learning. That is to say, the interest and happiness of the entire educational community, students and teachers alike. Institutional boundaries are a thing of the past.
