Blackboards Replaced By Monitors, Sapulpa Curriculum Goes Digital

Sapulpa's student education will be taking a more tech savvy step into the 21st century. Friday, the district unveiled its digital curriculum.

This new digital curriculum, made possible thanks to a $40 million bond approved last school year, will help improve classroom learning.

Students between third and twelfth grade will have access to the program once it's fully implemented.

In Sapulpa, education is shifting from the standard teacher and blackboard methods to a digital one.

Thursday a mock version of a new digital curriculum was presented to teachers like Gidean Seaman.

"It's very different than what you and I did, but we are excited to see what new things, new journeys these kids are gonna have," he said.

Over time he, along with all the teachers across the district, will incorporate the curriculum into students' everyday learning.

"We know kids learn different now than they did ten, 30 years ago, and one way we have to engage with kids is a method they are familiar with, and this is it. Technology matters to students," said Sapulpa Superintendent, Kevin Burr.

The curriculum was developed, in partnership, with the education publishing company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The program focuses on the core curriculum - Math, English, Science, Social Studies - and is made with intuitive software - it shifts with the child's learning abilities and speed.

"We know moms, and dads and kids are gonna like what they see," Burr said.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister is eager to see where the new form of learning goes.

"When I see this kind of transformational leadership that really leads to the hope of what we all want for our kids, is to step forward. In fact what I think you're doing is leaping forward in progress when it comes to academic attainment," she said.

With educational methods changing every day, Seaman said he's ready for it.

"One more tool teachers have that will improve our ability to teach and improve how our students learn, so if we can do it in a more interactive way why wouldn't we," he said.

A few of the middle school students and teachers have already tested out similar programs this year.

This curriculum will start to phase in starting next school year.