Technology

Springfield School District utilizes several technologies to support and enhance educational experiences for students and instructional practices of teachers and support staff. Technology also supports the communication and organizational systems of the school district. The SSD Technology Department is dedicated to ensuring these systems are fully functional and updated regularly to provide our students, parents, and staff with all the necessary tools to learn, teach, connect, and stay informed.

Instructional Technologies take several forms in our schools. Teachers utilize computers, interactive teaching panels like SMART Boards and Promethean Panels, and other classroom-based technologies to deliver instruction. Teachers also rely on several software and web-based platforms to create and deliver meaningful instruction as well as monitor student progress and communicate this progress with students and parents through platforms like Home Access Center and Canvas.

In addition to various technologies in the classroom, students utilize Chromebooks to support their learning. In Kindergarten and Grade 1, student use of technology is limited to diagnostic assessment tools and carefully selected software programs used as intervention tools and to enhance learning experiences. Students in Grades 2 and 3 use classroom-based Chromebooks similar to K-1 but with more opportunities to access subject specific software and curriculum-based applications to support their learning and complete in-class assignments. These experiences continue in Grades 4 and 5 with the addition of more digital-based curriculum programs. The major change in Grade 4 from Grade 2 is that students are issued a Chromebook to bring to and from school. This level of access continues through Grade 12.

As students enter and progress through Middle and High School, their exposure to and reliance on technology, specifically Chromebooks, increases to meet the expansive demands of digital based curriculum, instruction, and assessment platforms. Most recently, AI is finding its way into our classrooms, and we are in the process of crafting policy and standards of practice around the appropriate use of AI for our teachers and students. In 2025, PDE moved to all digital testing for PSSA’s and Keystone Exams. Additionally, College Board has converted several AP Exams to digital format in the past few years.

Interaction with technology isn’t limited to Chromebooks and typical technology features found in many of our classrooms. Courses in the subject areas of Art, Computer Science, Graphic Design, Photography, Robotics, Engineering, Science, among others expose students to state of the art and industry standard technologies to build foundations for future coursework and careers.

With the expansive infusion of technology into our learning spaces, our teachers continue to place high value on human face-to-face interactions with students and see these practices as important, if not more so, than the supportive technologies we incorporate at SSD. Realizing that the amount of time students spend on screens is a concern, our teachers and curriculum directors are sensitive to these concerns and are dedicated to implementing balanced educational experience for our students.