Northbrook School issued the following announcement on Aug. 30.
Learning First, Technology Second is the focus of expanding students’ access to technology and infusing classroom learning with innovation. The school year kicked off with sixth-grade students and parents gathered on Aug. 27 for orientation and distribution of individual iPads.
"This is one more step in the process of unlocking the full potential in all children," Superintendent Larry Hewitt told the families at orientation.
All kindergarten and third-grade classrooms also have received individual iPads for students. Students in sixth grade will carry their iPads throughout the school day and may bring home the devices to complete homework assignments and projects as needed. The younger grades will leave the iPads at school. Devices previously used in those grades were redistributed to other grades.
This is the first year of transitioning to an iPad environment as part of the district’s Learning First initiative. Learning First follows a framework for using technology in the classroom developed by educator Liz Kolb. The framework offers teachers guidance on when and how to best use iPads along with various apps and resources to engage, enhance or extend learning.
The rollout of iPads for each student will take place over three years. iPads were selected as the individual device following research of other districts that implemented one-to-one devices and a pilot initiative last year.
Student iPads will only have apps that are uploaded by the district. Also, a comprehensive Internet filtering system will always be active on the device, even outside of school.
The Learning First goals are to build and strengthen students’ abilities in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creation through deep learning of content and effective use of technology by:
1. Increasing student opportunities to effectively use digital tools to present evidence of learning ;
2. Infusing the district’s curricula with innovative technological practices;
3. Teaching our students to be safe, respectful, and reflective users of technology;
4. Designing professional learning opportunities for staff to learn about innovative instructional practices;
5. Building parental knowledge through education programs tailored to their needs;
6. Developing a multi-year plan to fund and sustain the initiative.
Visit our Learning First webpage for more information.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Northbrook School
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