What does purposeful technology look like when a school district sustains a clear vision for more than a decade?

In this episode of the Consortium for School Networking Podcast, we explore Dr. Stacy Hawthorne’s recent CoSN article, “Recognized: Sixteen Years of Purposeful Technology in Meriden Public Schools.”

Meriden’s story demonstrates that meaningful technology integration is not defined by devices or screen time. It is shaped by access, instructional purpose, professional learning, and a long-term commitment to students.

Over sixteen years, Meriden Public Schools has developed an equitable one-to-one program, introduced weekly Genius Labs for elementary students, expanded multilingual literacy support, and invested in educators through its six-stage “I’m Charged” professional learning framework.

The episode also highlights Dr. Hawthorne’s forthcoming book, “Purposeful Technology, Powerful Learning: You Can’t Ban Possibility.” Featuring documented stories from thirteen school districts, the book examines how schools are using technology intentionally to address real educational challenges and create opportunities that otherwise may not be possible.

Dr. Stacy Hawthorne, Ed.D., CETL, serves as Chair of the CoSN Board of Directors and Executive Director of the EdTech Leaders Alliance.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why equitable access must remain at the center of district technology planning
• How Meriden moved beyond devices to create meaningful learning experiences
• The role of professional learning and shared leadership
• Why purposeful technology cannot be measured by screen time alone
• How Dr. Hawthorne’s forthcoming book expands the conversation through stories from thirteen school districts

LEARN MORE:

Read the CoSN article:
https://www.cosn.org/recognized-sixteen-years-of-purposeful-technology-in-meriden-public-schools/

Explore “Purposeful Technology, Powerful Learning: You Can’t Ban Possibility”:
https://stacyhaw.github.io/Purposeful-Technology-Powerful-Learning/

Visit CoSN:
https://www.cosn.org/

Produced in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠edCircuit⁠⁠⁠.

CoSN is vendor-neutral and does not endorse products or services. Any mention of a specific solution is for contextual purposes.

This episode was generated in part using AI tools. All content was reviewed and approved by CoSN and the edCircuit editorial team before publication.