Partnership for Powerful Learning
On April 20, the Forest Hills School Board approved the “Partnership for Powerful Learning�, a 7th pilot project giving students the opportunity to bring in personally owned devices. On April 21, we hit the ground running.
To help guide us, we administered a survey to all 6th grade parents. The majority of the questions centered on the following:
• Security and care of the devices • Online safety
• Educational value
• Equity These questions would become the driving force behind all of our work.
We established an online presence as a place to house information and communicate details of the pilot project to parents and staff. Â
http://fhsdppl.wetpaint.com We installed additional access points and electrical outlets in the 7th grade rooms.
Cornerstone of the Pilot Project
Students
Teachers
Parents
The
Partnership
Students Digital Citizenship Tool Box
Student Voice Schoology
CampL(Conversations About My Learning)
Teachers Professional Development-f2f and online • Personal Learning Networks • Characteristics of 21st Century Learning • 21st Century Skills • Instructional Design • Experienced Voices
Parents • Technology Workshops • Parent Voice • CampL • Three evening sessions • Q&A • Choosing a Device • Learning with Technology Showcase
Launch January 24
353 (Number of 7
th
graders who bring their own device to school)
plus
160 (District devices dedicated to the 7
th
grade) equals
513 (Total number of devices) for
559 7th graders
The Devices
Students are bringing in tablet pcs, laptops, netbooks and a few iPads.
Seventh graders share the best parts of the pilot project: The whole new access to technology opens so many new ideas and doors for creative learning and projects.
You can find new ways to learn.
Having it when I need it.
My device is personalized to me.
.
I have all of my documents and OneNote notes on my laptop and can access them anytime. I also like that I can quickly email homework to my teachers and not have to worry about losing hard copy homework assignments.
It’s 20 billion times faster than school computers.
The best part about bringing our devices to school is seeing how the learning has changed and how much more kids are involved in their studies.
Seventh grade teachers share the best parts of the pilot project: It has changed the way I design lessons completely!
Students can communicate ideas more easily and at the same time.
Students with organization problems are much less likely to lose things.
I have totally turned my teaching upside down. I am doing more preplanning but students in the classroom are doing more exploring.
Students are eager to take notes and organize information.
The students who have the laptops are beginning to take ownership of their learning.
Student engagement and interest in learning has increased.
Parents of seventh grade students share the best parts about the pilot project: After participating in CampL and seeing what they can do with the computers, why would anyone NOT participate in the program?
I’m 100% for laptops for every student and wish FH would hurry and solidify this for high school students.
I think technology skills are critical as well as being able to work cooperatively with others all over the world. I am not tech savvy enough to know what types of technology skills our kids will need which is one reason I am pleased with the pilot project.
I feel technology can expand access to every field of study and is a tool which can enhance learning. My son responds in a very positive manner. Ability to access information and communicate information via the internet touches all careers now.
Adaptability, higher order thinking, global awareness, and sound reasoning are all 21st skills that are critical for student success.
The most challenging part of the pilot project: Fitting it into my locker Learning new tools. Remembering to charge it. Keeping it from being a distraction. The weight of my backpack. Keeping it safe because I do 3 sports for Nagel and I need to keep it as safe as possible. • Flash player because I have an iPad. • • • • • •