Copper Beech Middle School Teacher Jasper Fox Honored with Pioneer Award

From the Lakeland Central School District: Jasper Fox,science teacher, was recently honored with the Pioneer Award as a Distinguished Technology Teacher by the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC). Now in its 19th year, the Pioneer award recognizes innovative uses of instructional technology that change teaching and learning. Mr. Fox has long been a teacher who utilizes technology. His primary aim is to get students to use technology in a meaningful curricular context. This year he has started "flipping" his classroom and with great success. In the "flipped" classroom, students engage with content at home and then come to class prepared to learn in a more hands-on style.

"Not only are (my students) gaining skills to be successful in their life today and in the future. Also gaining additional 21st century study skills," explained Fox in his acceptance speech about the role technology has in the classroom.

In the classroom, you won't find him standing in front of his class and delivering a lecture. Instead, Mr. Fox can be found circulating around the room, helping the students with their class work, explaining concepts that need more clarity, and letting the students be the navigators of their learning. Students create content that is posted on the class wiki for all to refer to and learn from.

For one assignment this spring, Mr. Fox's Earth Science students created screen casts that explain concepts such as relative humidity, how to identify minerals and different rock types. By creating the videos, students become experts in their topics. If you walk into Mr. Fox's classroom, you will find students engaged and focused on their learning. Mr. Fox describes his approach to teaching as "teacher on demand. He thinks seriously about making himself available to his students on a continual basis.

Additionally, students are able to participate in on-line extra help sessions with Mr. Fox beyond the classroom day. His family vacations often become part of his on-going instruction for his students as he posts videos from a variety of sites they visit. He has adopted the use of QR codes to store student projects and homework within the classroom that can be accessed via a smartphone.