1:1 Digital Learning Initiative
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For laptop issues, contact
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News
November 2012
Parents play a tremendous part in the success of their child in school. That does not change in the digital world of today. The following link is offered as a resource to parents in relation to their place in the education of a 21st Century learner.
October 2012
In a report to the Board of Trustees in September the following information shared the progress of our 1:1 Iniative.
Help Desk: On average 25 students or staff members are helped at the desk daily. Fixes include software installation, login issues, printing issues, and repair issues. The Help Desk also takes care of all claims needed for repair and the imaging of machines.
Professional Development: Since the release of laptops to teachers in january 2012, various professional development opportunities have been offered: Specitic Apple Professional trainers delivered training for English and Social Studies teachers in February and to Science and Math teachers in July. Lower School teachers received training on the use of the iPad in the classroom. In addition voluntary summer training sessions were available related to Google docs and email.
Training during the Teacher Orientation days in early August included a “smackdown” from various teacher using technology as well as 30 minute sessions with Heritage Hall Tech Team members. The Media Center staff offers "20 Minutes Sessions" after school three days a week. Ami Steelman continues great support for teachers searching for methods and software to use in the classroom. The E21 Group from last year shared with us at each Professional Development day last year and the new group is now formed and will share at our October Professional Day.
Classroom reality:
Classroom/Curriculum Connections
Leadership Classes created iMovies to encourage younger students to use time wisely and avoid bullying.
Social Studies classes are taking a survey online regarding their personnel political preferences as they discuss the upcoming elections.
A math teacher is adapting a probability simulation activity on Google docs spreadsheet for AP Statistics.
A Social Studies teacher created a Google Site for the class which has homework, a calendar of assignments, lists of primary sources, videos, and student created presentations. They also have a Blogspot for personal reflection and open-ended responses.
A Biology teacher shares notes, vocabulary and labs with students via Google docs, has an embedded calendar in her website for parents, and uses Quizlet to administer quizzes, as well as having them work on iMovies related to their unit on cellular mitosis.
The middle school students are learning to log on to their personal accounts in Google, use the databases in the library, use their laptops daily in Science to complete and turn in assignments and create graphs on create-a-graph online.
Students in study skills classes never loose their assignments because they are there in Google docs on a calendar.
At the Lower School first graders are learning to use iPads for math and reading and laptops to access their ereader practice online; fourth graders are learning to create a presentation in Google docs. Each will present later in October related to a topic in their Reading/Social Studies curriculum.
In debate/speech they set up dropbox for the class so the teacher can pass handouts, lecture notes and other information to the students quickly.
Each student used surveymonkey.com to construct an audience analysis tool and had everyone in class take the surveys. Each student shared the data they collected with the class in a mini presentation.
Geography and Current Events students are participating in a digital "Amazing Race" to navigate their way across the globe using Google Earth to race to important places across the world. So far, they have stood atop the Eiffel Tower, climbed to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, visited the Great Barrier Reef, toured the Taj Mahal and marveled at ancient wonders including Stone Henge, the Colosseum and Macchu Picchu. Oh, and they stood on George Washington's forehead at Mount Rushmore and rushed the D-Day beaches of Normandy. Not bad for one week of "travel". Can't wait for next week.
In October 91 freshman took a CWRA Writing/intelligence test online. We used the Mathis and Bogitich Gyms and all took it at the same time wirelessly. In the past this testing would have required an entire day. On this day it was done in 2 hours thus putting our students back in the academic classrooms.
Parent email Supporting 1:1
My daughter was DREADING taking Computer Applications this year and, I practically had to force her to take Computer Applications this year. Oh my word. She LOVES it. She loves the projects. She just completed one on Paris, France. She talked about it non-stop. So, whatever they are doing in that class...it's working.
In English class, she, among other things, is having them make a "farce book" page as one of the characters in one of the books. (like facebook. only they are calling it farcebook.) My daughter has worked and worked on that project. And, at least two nights ago, she was very excited to do her presentation, in which she will use her farcebook creation. (the presentation was this week.)
So far, at least for my kid, the laptops have been GREAT. She is SO MUCH more excited to do her homework now. And, I'm thrilled for her!
Summary: Our goal is to provide our students with proper digital citizenship training while they are learning key curriculum concepts. The hope is that they will learn proper ways to use reliable resources and become critical thinkers. The students are now more engaged, and tell us they love being organized and able to contact their teachers and get a quick response. The study hall areas are quieter and the homework return is easier for the student.
June 2012
Letters to students/parents to schedule the issue of laptop time and place were sent June 11. Existing parents or new parents who feel they did not receive such information or who have questions regarding the issue of a laptop to students grades 7-12 for 2012-2013 can contact Karen Littlefield at 405-936-3104 or klittlefield@heritagehall.com.
May 2012
Teachers have attended formal training to help them become more effective in using 21st Century Teaching skills. The student carts and laptops have been order and the Tech Team will spend the summer preparing them for 2012-13. The roll out of laptops to students 7-12 will begin on July 30. Parents will receive a letter mid summer explaining the procedure. Every student and a guardian will come to check out the laptop and attend a 1 hour orientation. The orientation will include repair and replacement information, expectations for the use and care of the laptop, hints for general use of the laptop, thoughts about security for the use of the laptop at home and a Q&A time.
January 2012
Every teacher was issued a 13 inch MacBook Pro Laptop on January 2. The same day training was offered to help them begin the process of becoming familiar with the device that students 7-12 will carry in the fall 2012. Software on the teacher device is common to the software on the student device. Teachers have the opportunity to attend 20-minute training sessions daily or contact our Technology Integration Specialist (TIS) for continued help. Examples of teachers already moving toward a 1 to 1 environment are:
- A student home for an extended illness is skyping into the classroom to continue learning.
- Students are taking World Language vocabulary tests online via Quizlet.
- A collaboration between US English and US History is bringing a new perspective to "A Tale of Two Cities" as we hear speakers from each area discuss how history and the writing of this book relate.
- Chinese Language students write their assignments on the computers in Mandarin.
- Science classes are experimenting with a digital Biology book.
- All students 6-12 have a Google email account with access to google docs. They now share their assignments, presentations and websites with each other and their teachers using google docs.
- ECC students work on their iPads daily learning letters, numbers, and colors, while they "play" on the iPads.
- Fourth grade students are spending their lunch time for the third quarter learning to keyboard. They want to be ready for the laptop cart they will have access to in 5th and 6th grade.
- First grade students travel to learning centers, one of which is a laptop that allows them to practice their reading and math onlne.
- Teachers are carrying their 1 to 1 laptop to and from school to create, plan, grade, and communicate with students.
February 20-23 thirty-two teachers of English, History, World Language, and Lower School will attend extensive professional development on campus with a trainer. He will expose us to more ideas for the use of technology to support curriculum. Science and Math will have this opporturnity in July.
Students grades 7-12 returning to Heritage Hall for 2012-13 will receive letters regarding the roll out of their laptop during the early July timeframe. Every student will be required to bring a guardian with them as they come to an orientation and pickup their new 13 inch MacBook Pro laptop
Fall 2011
Installation of the total campus wireless network infrastructure was approved. The wireless network installation began in mid October to complete in early December. Teacher laptops and a server to control data storage and imaging were ordered in early November. Teachers will receive their laptop January 2, 2012 with initial training that same day. Professional development will be offered on a regular basis throughout the spring and summer of 2012.
A Parent Information Meeting was held in mid November to offer key information about the implementation plan for an Early Childhood (ECC)-12 issue of technology. The FAQ link has answer to questions asked.
Summer 2011
Task Force met for final review with a consultant to help make decision for change management and forward progress. At that time the Task Force was dissolved and a smaller Tech Group was organized. The Tech Group includes the Technology Director, the Directory of Academic Technology, the Assistant Head for Educational Affairs, a liaison from the Board of Trustees and the 1 to 1 Coordinator. Support for this core group includes the Technology Integration Specialist (TIS) and the Assistant Director of Technology.
The Tech Group meets weekly to coordinate the forward progress of the 1:1 Initiative for Heritage Hall.
May 20, 2011
Informational letter sent to parents of current students in grades 5-10.
- summarizes look of 1:1 environment at Heritage Hall
- details milestones to meet for August 2012 program readiness
May 17, 2011
Informational meeting for patrons.
May 1, 2011
Karen Littlefield has been appointed the 1:1 coordinator to ensure that technology works in the service of sound educational principles.
Nov. 2, 2010
Informational meeting for patrons.
Spring 2010
Informational letter sent to parents from Nick Carter.
Direct questions about 1:1 program
Email 1to1@heritagehall.com
