Fusing technology with Judaic and general education

Whether it’s using Dreambox to practice early math skills, taking courses in the school’s biochemical engineering program; or creating objects using the 3D printer, Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) students are learning how technology enhances both their general and Judaic educational programs.

In preparation for the school’s technology boom this school year, HAFTR’s educators attended workshops given by experts last school year, and purchased the technology equipment using private donations and grants. 

HAFTR is integrating technology slowly into each classroom with the introduction of hardware, projects and applications, according to Jason Bokor, the school board president. “From the school perspective, administrators run the technology education program,” he said. “In the past number of years, our schools have grown, in part to our teachers and our educational programs. As far as the technology component of education, we have asked our teachers, ‘What do you want? What do you need?’ We want our teachers to have as much input in this as possible.”

The modern Orthodox school is encouraging more females to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Fields that typically women lag behind men. Administrators think it’s important to begin introducing all children to technology as early as possible to familiarize them with it.

“We offer electives in engineering here at HAFTR,” said Naomi Lippman, the general studies principal at the high school. “We greatly encourage females to take these courses. They start at the ninth-10th grade level, where ninth-graders receive introduction to the principles of engineering, and in 10th grade, they learn to apply math and science research in engineering. This is maximum preparation for university.”