1:1 Learning
1:1 Learning at GMHS
At the start of the 2017-2018 school year, Georgetown Middle High School will launch a 1:1 iPad initiative for grades 7, 9, and 10. By the 2019-2020 school year, all students at GMHS will use iPads to support their learning. Students will use iPads in the classroom and at home as part of the learning process. Teachers also have access to several pieces of technology to support their instruction and shift practices to align with the needs of future ready learners.
Goals of the 1:1 Initiative
Adopting a 1:1 program at GMHS fits with several key academic, civic, and social components of the school’s mission statement. Students will use technology for new opportunities to become skilled communicators. They will use diverse media formats to consume and create products aligned to 21st century learning expectations. Using iPads create new opportunities to be contributing members of school and community. Students will have myriad opportunities to use technology as a learning tool and continue to become critical and creative thinkers.
The overall goals of the 1:1 program at GMHS are to:
Provide a device for all students and staff that will create an engaging environment for 21st century learning and prepares them to be independent learners in a connected society.
Provide students with the experiences they will need to develop the skills of communication, collaboration, curation, and creation.
Encourage learning that can happen anywhere, anytime.
Provide students with opportunities to create authentic and meaningful projects that are shared with the Georgetown community.
21st Century Learning
As teaching and learning evolves at GMHS, our students and teachers must find ways to meet the needs of an increasingly globalized society while integrating the skills and tools required for success. In his book, The Global Achievement Gap, Tony Wagner cites the following skills necessary for students to become Global Citizens:
Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
Agility and adaptability
Initiative and entrepreneurialism
Effective oral and written communication
Accessing and analyzing information
Curiosity and imagination
We live in a time where unlimited amounts of information are available anywhere with split second speed to over 2.4 billion internet users. Personal devices that many people carry have the ability to be constantly connected to the internet and used to almost instantaneously answer our questions. Our students can walk the world with a few taps and swipes of their finger. According to www.internetworldstats.com, worldwide internet growth between 2000 and 2012 has been 566.4 percent. A percentage that continues to grow dramatically as internet penetration improves and increases. These dramatic increases can be harnessed to improve and dramatically change the face of education.
The job of the teacher is now transforming from the “sage on the stage” to facilitator of learning where the teacher is more like a coach. Our classrooms are beginning to become more project-based and designed around real-world problems to solve. Students no longer need to memorize statistics, dates and formulas, but now need to use the information they can search for on the internet to think critically, collaborate, communicate and be creative and innovative. The available technology is becoming more dynamic and the software more efficient and effective as we create personal learning networks and begin to integrate constant two-way information streams into our everyday lives that will support and enhance a 1 to 1 environment in our school.
Preparation
Two years ago, MacBook Air laptops were purchased for all teachers and iPads the following year. Teachers participated in professional development for the Apple devices and are now familiar with the Apple platform. With the installation of LCD TVs paired with Apple TVs, the classrooms are now able to project from either the MacBooks or iPads. This allows both teachers and students to present content to the classroom.
Teachers also received professional development from outside consultants as well as in-house experts on how to best integrate technology into their instruction. EdTech Teacher provided two sessions on using powerful apps for all content areas. Liz Marchetti and Sandra Schwarzkopf also presented to staff using their knowledge of technology and Georgetown students to show how a 1:1 program can be best utilized.
Over the summer of 2015 and 2016, the entire technology infrastructure of the school was upgraded. New switches and faster Internet access were added in 2015 and a complete overhaul of the wireless network in 2016. Before these upgrades, staff and students had slow and unreliable connections to the network; they now have reliable high speed wireless access in every classroom.
Georgetown Middle High School now has the infrastructure in place that will support a robust 1:1 environment. A 1:1 program provides students and staff the ability to take full advantage of content on the web and have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. A 1:1 program will provide the tools needed to truly integrate technology into the classroom in all disciplines. Students will be able to create content collaboratively and create projects that reflect either group or individual learning skills. Students will be able to find real world solutions to local or global issues
Timeline
2015-2017
Purchases of new televisions, Apple TVs, MacBook Airs, and iPads for all GMHS staff
Upgraded technology and wireless infrastructure of GMHS
Site visits to Apple headquarters in New York City and schools already implementing 1:1 iPad programs.
Professional development and trainings for teachers on Apple products and technology integration.
Meetings with Apple Account Executive and FACTS Management company to determine details of proposal and launch.
Presentation of 1:1 proposal to Georgetown School Committee.
Parent informational meeting (January 2017)
Families sign up to participate in the 1:1 iPad program (Spring 2017)
2017-2018
August/September: Students in grades 7, 9, and 10 receive their iPads to begin the school year.
Ongoing professional development and integration support for teachers and staff members.
Surveys to students, teachers, and families to assess the progress and success of the 1:1 initiative in its first year.
2018-2019
Students in grades 7 and 9 receive their iPads to begin the school year.
Ongoing professional development and integration support for teachers and staff members.
Surveys to students, teachers, and families to assess the progress and success of the 1:1 initiative in its first year.
2019-2020
Students in grade 7 receive their iPad to begin the school year. GMHS will be fully 1:1 by the 2019-2020 school year.
Ongoing professional development and integration support for teachers and staff members.
Surveys to students, teachers, and families to assess the progress and success of the 1:1 initiative in its first year.
Device Choice
The choice of mobile learning devices must be heavily influenced by the learning goals that we have for our students. Although physical characteristics such as cost and battery life are considerations, the capabilities of devices to further the development of 21st Century Skills is paramount. We want all students to be engaged in the processes of curation, communication, collaboration, and creation. The device we choose should be the one that best supports these processes.
Here are the devices that have been considered as we have moved to a more mobile learning environment:
Our Device Choice – iPads
Effective curation, communication, collaboration, and creation is influenced by a couple of factors. One of the the most important factors is mobility. We want our students to engage in meaningful learning experiences no matter where they are. A tablet device such as an iPad frees students from the constraints of a classroom. They are able to move throughout their environment much easier and really can do work anywhere. Another factor we considered was creative capacity. The capabilities of the iPad camera are much more robust than that of the laptop or Chromebook cameras. The ability to showcase learning in both a written and visual form is critically important in the 21st century, and the iPad offers students the opportunity to do this with relative ease. In addition to the camera, the opportunity to use several apps to create an original piece of work acts as sketchbook where students can go back and reflect upon the entire creative process. This encourages students to run through several iterations so that they can produce work that has meaning for them and that they are willing to share with the rest if the world.
Certainly, cost was a consideration in this endeavor. iPads fall in between Chromebooks and laptops in terms of price. We feel at this time, with the learning goals in mind, that the iPad allows us to do more of what we want to do. iPads have a better creative capacity than Chromebooks, and they are cheaper, more mobile, and more durable than laptops.
According to the website Teach Thought, there are nine Characteristics of 21st Century Learning.
*Learner-centered
*Media-driven (this doesn’t have to mean digital media)
*Personalized
*Transfer-by-Design
*Visibly Relevant
*Data-Rich
*Adaptable
*Interdependent
*Diverse
Each of these characteristics is greatly enhanced by the use of an iPad. Our choice, the iPad Pro, is a portable device can help to fully integrate the characteristics into everyday learning and an excellent option for personalization.
The iPad Pro is portable at less than 1 pound, has a forward facing camera to support video conferencing and a higher quality rear facing camera that can also be used for HD video. The device has access to a suite of apps that can immediately be used to curate, create, share, research, analyze, synthesize and communicate in various ways. By choosing the most powerful model that Apple offers, students will have technology that will remain relevant for several years to come.
Additions to the iPad
The iPad by itself has many capabilities. One shortcoming of the device, noted by our pilot students and described when we have spoken with other schools, is the on-screen keyboard. Since writing is a major component of our curriculum, we need to make provisions for supporting this work being done on the iPad. Therefore, we are recommending that a bluetooth keyboard be included as part of the device package. For protection of the iPad, we also will include a cover and the AppleCare protection plan. These additions to the iPad will both limit the damage that could occur and cover the cost of repair or replacement.
Apps for Learning
One of the strengths of the iPad is the robust ecology that surround the device in terms of the number and diversity of apps that are available. Although we do expect some subject specific apps to be used by students in their coursework, we really want to focus on a small number of apps that are used across all classes for curation, communication, collaboration, and creation. Most of these apps are free; some, however, do come with a cost. The apps that we require students to have for their coursework would be loaded onto the devices by the school, and the cost of the paid apps would also be supported by the school.
AppleTV
One final piece of technology that is an important component of the program is AppleTV. AppleTV is a small device (the size of a coaster) that attaches to the televisions in all classrooms. The AppleTV then allows the teacher and students to wirelessly display what is on their iPads to the screen. The value here is that the students can share their work in class, and teachers can also use this feature as to support formative assessment.
Participation
We are excited to rollout out 1:1 iPad initiative to grades 7, 9, and 10 for the 2017-2018 school year. Teachers and students will actively use the iPad as a tool for organization, communication, and creation.
This program is intended to function as a partnership between the families and the school. The district will provide the learning experiences, infrastructure, technology and professional development for teachers, and technical support. Families will support the cost of the devices for students. We are proposing that the entire device package consists of the iPad Pro 32GB, Apple Care protection, case, bluetooth keyboard and educational apps. We feel that a finance model that spreads the cost over three years is an approach that allows the technology to support the goals of the program over the long-term. We anticipate the annual cost to families to be approximately $315 per device, or about $26 per month.
It is our hope that all students will participate in the 1:1 program; however, we understand that there are different circumstances for all families. Below are the three participation options available for students:
Option One
Finance a 32GB iPad Pro with Logitech Rugged Combi keyboard/case and 3 years of AppleCare protection through the school’s program at a cost of approximately $315 per year for three years. If a student purchases an iPad through the school, s/he will have access to it as if it were his/her own and s/he can take it home with him/her each day, but the school will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the device. The iPad will come preloaded with apps that students will use in their classes. At the end of the financing term (3 years), the student will own the machine outright.
Scholarships will be available for families who qualify. Please contact Suzanne Wallace for more info,
Option Two
Bring your own iPad or device to school with you. We know that some students already have their own iPad. If a student or parent feels more comfortable providing their own iPad, they can do this in lieu of financing from the school. Please be aware, however, that if students bring their own iPad, classroom teachers and technology personnel may not be able to help them troubleshoot issues that occur, so students should feel very comfortable using their own devices. In addition, the school may not be able to provide paid apps to students who bring their own iPad.
Option Three
Parent or guardian has decided that the student will not participate in the 1:1 iPad program. Students will have access to older model iPads during the school day; however, these iPads must stay in the classroom and cannot be taken home to complete school work.
FAQ
Why are we requiring all students to have an iPad?
No matter what students do when they leave the high school, they will need to be able to be effective communicators, collaborators, curators, and creators if they are to be successful leaders and citizens in the 21st century. These are the skills that we want our students to develop over their four years in the high school. If we want to develop those skills, then we need to ask them to communicate, collaborate, curate, and create in their classes. We then must equip students with the tools they need to engage in these tasks. Mobile technology, coupled with wireless access to the internet, gives students the means they need to practice the four Cs we have described above.
Aren’t iPads bad for writing?
The onscreen keyboard does pose some challenges for writing. Given writing’s importance to the process of communication, we must find a way to support this skill with the iPad. That is why we are requiring the purchase of a keyboard with the iPad. The keyboard will give students the tool they need to write in an efficient manner. They still will be able to untether the device from the keyboard, so the mobility of the device will be unaffected.
Why just 7th, 9th and 10th graders?
We are not proposing that we give iPads to students and that school will go on as it always has. If we give students such a powerful tool with the ability to access unlimited information, along with an abundance of creative and collaborative tools, we need to expect that learning should look quite a bit different as well. This will require a shift in expectations, curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Such changes can only be supported through sustained learning and professional development for teachers. If we focus our efforts on the 7th, 9th, and 10th grades, we feel we can more efficiently and effectively grow the capacity within our faculty to teach in a more student-centered environment. In addition, the smaller group of students will allow the technology staff to learn how to support teachers and students as we deploy mobile technology across the school.
How long will it take for the entire school to be 1:1?
By 2019-2020, we will be fully implemented grades 7-12. At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, students in 7th and 9th grade will be folded into the program and in 2019-2020 all students will have access to a 1:1 device.
Who will pay for the iPads?
We are modeling our program as a partnership with families, similar to what is done at Beverly High School and Hamilton Wenham Regional High School. Families will assume the cost of the devices, and the school will provide the technology support.
How much will this cost?
We estimate that each family will pay approximately $315 per year to supply a device to one student. This includes the cost of the iPad, cover, keyboard, apps, and insurance. There will be different payment options and methods available to families including a one time payment for the device in full, two payments over the course of one year, and monthly payments over three years.
What about students who cannot afford to participate?
We are a public school and all students will have access to this program regardless of ability to pay. We are in the process of creating a scholarship fund to support students who are not able to pay the full cost.
What if I have my own iPad? Can I use that to participate?
Students who already have their own iPad can use it to participate. However, the school may not be able to support student-owned devices and students will be responsible for purchasing apps that are required for class.
What tech support will be offered?
Students will be able to bring their iPad to the tech center for assistance with problems they are having with their iPads. In addition, the tech staff will provide all students with the apps that the school requires for class. This is done through a mobile device management system and this takes place automatically. Students who purchase iPads through the school also receive three years of Apple Care which covers damages and breakage of the device.
How much ownership of the will students have?
Students will be able to take the devices home every night and in the summer. They may put their own content on the device, with the provision that the iPad is first and foremost a learning device. In addition, the iPad and it’s use are still governed by the district’s acceptable use policy.
Who will monitor the use of the iPads?
Again, as this program is a partnership, both the school and families need to play a role. Filtering of content and appropriate use is the responsibility of the school when students are in school. When students are at home, parents and guardians will monitor use. The school and families must work together to help our students become effective digital citizens.
Resources
iPad 1:1 Parent Info Night Presentation
Common Sense Media: Cyberbullying, Haters, and Trolls