Implementation
The first step was to upgrade our wireless service in all of our schools. Our partnership with Jackson County Intermediate School District allowed us to install the proper equipment in our schools to provide broadband service in each classroom and in our Media Centers (libraries).
In late November 2012, a pilot program began with two sixth grade classes at Western Middle School. These students were issued a district Macbook Air® laptop to use in their classroom and at home (if their parents chose to participate in that part of the program). Our staff has been diligently working with this new technology, attending training and planning the integration of these new tools in their classroom. We then rolled out laptops to the rest of the middle school in February - March 2013. We offer the students walk in support in our Media Center and a Student Help Desk where they can enter a ticket if they are experiencing any problems. We also continually add to our Troubleshooting page so students can learn to solve their issues independently.
As part of the new technology implementation, our students received training on new applications (programs) that are on their Macbook Air® laptops, they are discovering new resources for education, and working closely with their classmates and our staff to resolve technical difficulties. The 21st century learning skills they acquire will help prepare them for their future in the real world.
While moving to iPads® for the 2013-2014 school year meant a slight change to the program, (the 1:1 technology initiative is still achieved), we are convinced that this move allows us to achieve our desired goals for our 1:1 initiative while providing for additional opportunities and flexibility for our students and staff. The applications for the iPad® (Pages® and iMovie®, etc.) work in much the same way on the iPad® as on the MacBook Air®, and students will be using Dropbox™, Google Drive™ and Google Docs™ for document management on the iPad®, in addition to accessing Edmodo and other online websites for classroom use. With so many educational applications available for the iPad® (the current estimate is 40,000 educational apps!), our students have access to more tools than ever before.
The iPad® brings more opportunities for students in band, choir, art, and provides for more powerful uses in math and science than a laptop can. With the availability of iBooks Author® to our teachers, and iBooks to our students, teachers can create and share custom designed, interactive and engaging ‘textbooks’ of their own, or use free resources developed by other teachers across the nation. Only the iPad® offers access to these iBooks®.
In late November 2012, a pilot program began with two sixth grade classes at Western Middle School. These students were issued a district Macbook Air® laptop to use in their classroom and at home (if their parents chose to participate in that part of the program). Our staff has been diligently working with this new technology, attending training and planning the integration of these new tools in their classroom. We then rolled out laptops to the rest of the middle school in February - March 2013. We offer the students walk in support in our Media Center and a Student Help Desk where they can enter a ticket if they are experiencing any problems. We also continually add to our Troubleshooting page so students can learn to solve their issues independently.
As part of the new technology implementation, our students received training on new applications (programs) that are on their Macbook Air® laptops, they are discovering new resources for education, and working closely with their classmates and our staff to resolve technical difficulties. The 21st century learning skills they acquire will help prepare them for their future in the real world.
While moving to iPads® for the 2013-2014 school year meant a slight change to the program, (the 1:1 technology initiative is still achieved), we are convinced that this move allows us to achieve our desired goals for our 1:1 initiative while providing for additional opportunities and flexibility for our students and staff. The applications for the iPad® (Pages® and iMovie®, etc.) work in much the same way on the iPad® as on the MacBook Air®, and students will be using Dropbox™, Google Drive™ and Google Docs™ for document management on the iPad®, in addition to accessing Edmodo and other online websites for classroom use. With so many educational applications available for the iPad® (the current estimate is 40,000 educational apps!), our students have access to more tools than ever before.
The iPad® brings more opportunities for students in band, choir, art, and provides for more powerful uses in math and science than a laptop can. With the availability of iBooks Author® to our teachers, and iBooks to our students, teachers can create and share custom designed, interactive and engaging ‘textbooks’ of their own, or use free resources developed by other teachers across the nation. Only the iPad® offers access to these iBooks®.
Western School District 1400 S. Dearing Rd. Parma, MI 49269 517.841.8100
Working together with our community to educate all students as individuals to become successful in a complex world.
www.westernschools.org
Working together with our community to educate all students as individuals to become successful in a complex world.
www.westernschools.org