Navigating the 1:1 Technology Initiative, is it right for Wellesley?

http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/

The Sprague PTO is having a second meeting, Wednesday January, 30 at 8:45am in the Sprague Cafeteria to further discuss the 1:1 Technology Proposal with Rob Ford, Director of Technology, WPS. We recently engaged parents/teachers in a questionnaire about the proposal. If you haven't had a chance to complete the questionnaire, please click here to do so. Your opinions/questions are welcome and appreciated.

For more information about the WPS Proposal and results from the Schofield pilot click here. 

To help us understand how devices are being used successful across the country we engaged with a school principal in Boyne City Michigan to talk about his results.  If you have a chance, please visit his blog below.  It was quite surprising to learn about the many benefits of embracing a 1:1 initiative.  

Listed below are highlights from a recent phone interview with Principal Fred Sitkins, a school principal in Boyne City Michigan.  His district is in its third year of using iPads 1:1 in 4th grade, and in its first year of using iPads 1:1 throughout their entire district at all grade levels, K-12. 
 
  (Principal Sitkins will be publishing his complete data at the end of the year.)

• Mid-year data is very encouraging. For the first time, K & 1st grades are ahead of the basic pre-literacy skills. Teachers are excited because they are well ahead of benchmarks. Many students have reached their end of year goals already.

• Children who struggle academically have a much harder time increasing their intervention level as the years go by. Their 4th grade class which is in their 3rd year of using 1:1 has increased their intervention level by 18% (mid-year) already. Typically it takes the whole year to see an increase of about 9% in intervention levels. 

• iPad learning has increased attention, participation and social collaboration. The iPad learning has “rescued” many students who had otherwise shutdown, which happens as early as the 2nd and 3rd grade. With the help of the Edmodo App, student participation in group and classroom discussions is at 100%. Children are fully engaged in learning.

• The staff at Boyne City Elementary is on board. So are the students. The principal says, “I’m amazed with the amount of time students are spending on critical thinking. Kids are working so much harder than ever before. Kindergartners are creating books and giving presentations. Who knew they could? Students are teaching fellow students.”

• Something they didn't realize early on was that the device could be set so kids who log on from home would be channeled through the school's firewall, so parents didn't have to apply the settings to their home firewalls. Apple can help with the configuration.  (WPS is proposing the device stays at school with all 5th graders next year and is considered for take home the following year.)

Please navigate to Principal Sitkins blog for many answers to questions, findings and resources about the success of their 1:1 iPad Initiative at the elementary school level.

http://www.ipadpd.com/index.html

For examples of how other schools around the world are using this technology, visit  http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/

A 1:1 technology initiative will only be successful in Wellesley if we have support from teachers, students and parents.

Thank you, Jean Walsh and Andrea Giroux
Sprague PTO Co-Presidents