Apple's iPad2 is rocking education. Information for students won’t be limited to printed static textbooks. Collaboration won’t be discouraged but expanded.
Recently, Matthew Reisburg, Administrator of Mt. Airy Christian Academy (MACA) invited me to attend a presentation by school staff discussing their technology plans for "Digitally Enhanced Learning/Teaching." MACA will provide all high school students with an iPad2 as part of their new one-to-one technology initiative. The goal is to integrate the use of technology with all aspects of learning and to keep students engaged.
Last year in Apple Money, Money, Money I wrote, "Still, I think the greater change it (iPad) could bring about will be in publishing and in anchoring Apple back in schools once again." MACA is one of many schools bringing this to fruition. When Matthew made the initial announcement to attendees that beginning with High school, students will be issued iPad2s after the summer student pilot program for the fall 2011 semester; there was an appreciative applause. Matthew said, "MACA wants to offer the best education we can possibly offer while remaining proactive, staying on the cutting edge." He also went on to say that, "Society and education is changing and technology is more a part of education."
Among the anticipated benefits:
* Reduces school supplies
* Reduces textbooks/costs
* Reduces students backpack weight
* Improved collaboration
* No more lost or forgotten homework assignments, events, quiz or test dates
* Students can highlight and markup electronic textbooks
* Students can tap on a word they do not understand
* Quizzes and tests given and taken via iPad2
* Responses to polls
* Students (Parents) always know where students stand in performance
TOOLS UTILIZED
* Moodle is a "Course Management System" and "Virtual Learning Environment" that enables teachers to distribute handouts and give tests and quizzes digitally, initiate interactive student discussions/chats/polls, assign/receive homework digitally and automate grading.
* Utilize free online services such as Dropbox, and our in-house WebDAV server, which will allow students to synchronize their work to the "cloud," ensuring that their files are easily accessible, and backed up frequently.
* Students will be able to digitally "mark-up," highlight, and take notes directly on textbook pages, and MACA will be able to take advantage of new textbook editions as they are introduced.
* With the in-house Microsoft Exchange Server, students will be able to easily access their school-assigned/monitored email account, and utilize the calendar to help them manage their school/sports/personal schedules.
* Along with the standard iOS/iPad 2 apps, the initial provided resources are: Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Blue Letter Bible HD, GoodReader, Audiotorium, Dropbox, GraphCalc HD, WordPress, iBooks, Google Earth, Google Books, Free Books, Photoshop Express, and Dragon Dictation.
* MACA internal website (viewable only by MACA students, staff, families, and alumni), which will be WordPress based and hosted on our in-house web server. The student-maintained website will feature content derived from all aspects of student life at MACA from core academic subjects, fine arts, sports, extra-curricular activities, community service, etc.
* The school is using their existing Cisco ASA 5505 Series firewall and Barracuda 310 Web Filter appliance and adding the Mobicip application to centrally filter and monitor Internet access on iPads when they are used outside of the school building.
Apple's iPad2 is rocking education. Information for students won’t be limited to printed static textbooks. Collaboration won’t be discouraged but expanded and then expounded with always-on availability. Student learning styles and intrinsic motivators can be touched and even sparked to help deliver improvement with just the right mash up for each student. Better teacher delivery of content and faster administration of grades and test/quiz taking will result in teachers having more time to develop lesson plans and content. Reduced education expenses and improved student/teacher experience mean value. The Apple iPad is disrupting the old school and I think students and faculty will embrace the technology willingly.
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