The Project
"Preparing our students to be positive, impactful citizens in a technology driven world"
Western School District began planning a One to One Technology Initiative to be funded as part of the Bond Issue that was passed in February of 2012. Our team visited several schools that have a 1:1 Technology Program and consulted many experts before and during the planning phase of this program. By rolling out a Pilot Program for two 6th grade classrooms, we ensured that we had procedures in place before implementing it to the entire middle school.
It all began with students in two of our sixth grade classes being issued a MacBook Air® laptop in late November 2012. The rest of the students at Western Middle School received their laptops in February - March of 2013. Students began to integrate technology into their lessons once they received some basic training. In our experience, students quickly embrace this new technology and sometimes teach us new ways to use it in our classrooms.
As we progress, both the middle school and high school students will be issued iPads® in the fall of 2013. Many of the applications that the middle school students used on their laptops will be available on the iPads® along with additional educational apps. With the availability of textbooks from the iBook® store, this moves us closer to our goals. The battery on the iPad® has a much longer life than the MacBook Air® so students should not have to recharge during the day. (See the "Integration" link under "The Project" for more details.) Elementary students will share iPads®, MacBook Airs® and PC's in their classrooms to begin introducing them to various forms of technology.
The purpose of this Initiative is to put the most advanced tools for learning in the hands of our students while offering them unprecedented use of technology. Students will begin to learn in a whole new way.
Western School District began planning a One to One Technology Initiative to be funded as part of the Bond Issue that was passed in February of 2012. Our team visited several schools that have a 1:1 Technology Program and consulted many experts before and during the planning phase of this program. By rolling out a Pilot Program for two 6th grade classrooms, we ensured that we had procedures in place before implementing it to the entire middle school.
It all began with students in two of our sixth grade classes being issued a MacBook Air® laptop in late November 2012. The rest of the students at Western Middle School received their laptops in February - March of 2013. Students began to integrate technology into their lessons once they received some basic training. In our experience, students quickly embrace this new technology and sometimes teach us new ways to use it in our classrooms.
As we progress, both the middle school and high school students will be issued iPads® in the fall of 2013. Many of the applications that the middle school students used on their laptops will be available on the iPads® along with additional educational apps. With the availability of textbooks from the iBook® store, this moves us closer to our goals. The battery on the iPad® has a much longer life than the MacBook Air® so students should not have to recharge during the day. (See the "Integration" link under "The Project" for more details.) Elementary students will share iPads®, MacBook Airs® and PC's in their classrooms to begin introducing them to various forms of technology.
The purpose of this Initiative is to put the most advanced tools for learning in the hands of our students while offering them unprecedented use of technology. Students will begin to learn in a whole new way.
What do we hope to achieve with this initiative?
Benjamin Bloom's original classification of intellectual behavior important in learning has been updated to reflect relevance to the 21st century workplace. By placing technology that has applications to foster creative projects, in the hands of every students we are moving in the right direction.
Employers are seeking people that have analytical skills that help them problem solve on every level of their job.
For more information on Bloom's Taxonomy click on the link below. There are also links on that website that fully explain each behavior and why it is important to teach these skills to our students.
Click here for Bloom's Taxonomy
Employers are seeking people that have analytical skills that help them problem solve on every level of their job.
For more information on Bloom's Taxonomy click on the link below. There are also links on that website that fully explain each behavior and why it is important to teach these skills to our students.
Click here for Bloom's Taxonomy
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