Across Southwest Florida, schools are blending technology and traditional learning in Collier and Lee Counties so students get the best of both worlds. In many classrooms, children tap and swipe on interactive screens, listen to real-time translations, and borrow digital books. Then they turn to pencils, workbooks, and small-group discussions. Local educators repeat the same idea: technology should enhance good teaching, not replace it.
How are teachers blending tech and traditional lessons?
Walk into a classroom in Collier or Lee County and you are likely to see both laptops and lined paper on desks. Students may answer a question on a shared screen and then switch to a notebook to show their work.
Collier County Public Schools is finishing a project to place interactive flat panel (IFP) boards in all 3,000 classrooms. These large touch-screen boards act like smart whiteboards but allow full interactivity.
“Students can collaboratively solve problems or write,” said Tom Petry, executive director of technology services. “Instead of using individual devices it focuses as a group on the lesson. That is a great teaching tool because it literally engages the students in a way that is very different.”
Teachers use the boards to project a problem, diagram, or text, then invite students up to circle, drag, or write on the screen. The class talks through each step together, keeping technology at the center of the shared lesson instead of on separate devices.
Even with these tools, you still see plenty of paper notebooks, workbooks, and hands-on activities. In many Collier and Lee classrooms, blending technology and traditional learning is about choosing the right tool for each part of the lesson.
How does technology support—but not replace—reading?
Parents often worry that screens might push out real books. Local educators say technology can actually support reading when it is used thoughtfully alongside traditional literacy practices.
At Sabal Palm Elementary, media specialist Shawn Maas builds early literacy around both picture books and digital tools. “I do read alouds,” he said. “That is one of the most important things for early literacy.”
With only a print book, students in the back could not always see the pictures or words. Now Maas projects the book on a large screen so every child can clearly see each page. He can circle words or images to highlight vocabulary and important details.
Maas can choose from 56 languages to add subtitles or give some students headsets so they can hear the story translated into their native language while they follow along in English.
“I like to show the kids that this is what technology can do to enhance learning,” Maas stressed. “It should never replace [teacher instruction], but it should enhance learning.”
Digital library books add another layer. Using a program called Sora, students can check out ebooks from the school library anytime. For some reluctant readers, tapping to turn a page or zooming in on a picture makes reading feel more fun.
“I love my print books, but if they are not reading we have to try something else,” Maas said.
In these classrooms, blending technology and traditional learning means using screens to support, not replace, the experience of reading real books with a trusted adult.
How does technology help English language learners keep up?
One of the most powerful examples of blending technology and traditional learning in Collier and Lee Counties is in classrooms for English language learners.
At Golden Gate Middle School, science teacher Kristin Payne teaches students who know very little English. During a lesson on heat and cooling, her students put on headsets while she teaches at the front of the room. As she speaks, her words are translated into each student’s language and displayed on their computer screens.
“We are so blessed to have” the translation system, said Golden Gate Middle School Principal Jennifer Knutowski. “It increases accessibility for our English language learners (ELL). It is giving them equal opportunities.”
Students say the difference is huge. “It is perfect because I know what the teacher is saying,” said eighth grader Yeskenny Ramos Pena. “It is helping me learn.”
“It is awesome,” added her classmate Emilly Castillo Ulloa. “It is important to understand the teacher. I don’t feel like we are so far behind.”
The program translates the teacher’s speech into more than 80 languages. Christy Kutz, Collier County Public Schools’ executive director of secondary education, says this is especially helpful for students who are not Spanish speaking and may have no one else to translate.
“It is a great tool for students that are just arriving,” Kutz stressed. “Some of them are speaking languages that we are not used to getting, like Russian or Mandarin, and we don’t have any staff to help them.”
Students still participate in general education classes and hear plenty of English. The translation system is one more way schools are blending technology and traditional learning so new arrivals can follow complex lessons from day one.
Why are some schools limiting screens on purpose?
Even as classroom technology grows, many Collier and Lee schools are careful not to let screens take over the day. Laptops and tablets are tools, not the main event.
Every Collier County Public Schools student receives a laptop, but leaders stress that devices do not drive instruction. “It is not a big part of their day,” said Alyssa Ledbetter, CCPS senior director of teaching and learning. “They still have workbooks. We try to utilize the technology to enhance their learning, not necessarily as a mode for their learning.”
Kutz added, “We try to get actual text in front of our kids all day long, so they can touch and feel and mark up their textbooks, because we know it is the best way to learn. Our teachers are still the best way for students to learn.”
Some schools lean even more traditional. Mason Classical Academy in Naples was founded on limiting technology, especially for younger students. When the school first opened, elementary students had no computer access. Technology was added mainly when state testing moved to computers.
No student at Mason Classical Academy gets their own computer and cell phones are banned from campus.
“I just felt there was this push toward technology,” said Kelly Mason, one of the school’s founders. “Here, people don’t want their kids in front of [screens], especially in the elementary years. A lot of families that chose Mason are in that same mindset in using limited technology.”
In Lee County, the district also is trying to prevent overuse of screens. “Our push this year is to use less technology,” said district spokesman Rob Spicker. “We go tech-free on the tenth day of every month.”
Bayshore School in North Fort Myers takes a similar approach. “We have made it our goal to use technology only as a tool,” said Principal Ben Ausman. “There are so many other practices and strategies and techniques that our teachers have been using that are far better than putting kids on Chromebooks all day long.”
Teachers at Bayshore might project a question and ask students to answer on computers to quickly see who understands the concept. The rest of the day, lessons are taught by the teacher and reinforced through group work and discussion.
“The computer won’t argue back and give you the other sides of things,” Ausman said. “We need to prepare kids to work with others. More and more you hear about critical thinking. That is what employers are looking for.”
Where does AI fit into this balance?
Blending technology and traditional learning in Collier and Lee Counties also includes newer tools like artificial intelligence, especially for older students.
The Freedom Institute in Naples used a $1 million grant from the Dekko Foundation to create Freedom AI, a program that teaches students to use AI responsibly. Teens there use AI to revise résumés and college applications and to get feedback on interview skills. They also explore the ethics and security issues behind these tools.
“We have to get into the game and teach them to use AI,” said Chris Marker, chief learning officer, CEO, and co-founder of The Freedom Institute. “This is the tractor, this is the telephone, this is the PC of our generation. We will be better if we know how to use it. The United States must be on the forefront of AI. If another country with nefarious goals becomes the frontrunner, we are all in trouble. I want this tool to be mastered and controlled. My students are going to graduate knowing things that most kids are not going to know.”
In programs like this, AI is introduced as one more tool students can learn to handle wisely, alongside strong writing skills, face-to-face conversations, and traditional coursework.
What can parents ask about classroom tech use?
For families in Collier and Lee Counties, it can be hard to picture what blending technology and traditional learning really looks like day to day. Start by asking how technology fits into your child’s typical lesson, not just how many devices the school has.
- Ask how often devices are used and whether they are mainly for practice, testing, or creating projects.
- Look for plenty of books, paper, and pencils alongside laptops and tablets in your child’s classroom.
- Notice whether your child describes group work and discussions as well as individual screen time.
- Check that technology is helping your child access learning, especially if they are learning English or need visual supports.
- Talk with teachers if you worry about too much screen time. Ask how they balance tech with hands-on and face-to-face learning.
Local schools are still refining how they are blending technology and traditional learning in Collier and Lee Counties. As you stay involved and ask questions, you can help your child get the benefits of both strong teaching and smart tools.