A Chicken in Every Pot, A Device on Every Desk

Check out this story from the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago highlighting an iPad/macBook Air initiative in District 93 in Illinois.  Younger students will be receiving iPads, while the older kids will get MacBooks.  The district has decided to lease the devices as the technology is changing so rapidly.  Hats off to Superintendent Bill Shields for his vision recognizing that it just doesn't make sense to make kids sign up or wait in line for their turn to have access to technology in their schools. 

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120705/news/707059664/

One-to-One Making a Huge Impact

Check out this story about River Dell Regional High School in Oradell, New Jersey.  Recognizing the need to engage kids in ways they are used to doing outside the classroom, this school, under the visionary leadership of Lorraine Brooks, Principal, committed to becoming a digital school.  Their tech director notes, it's not about the device , it's about the learning.  They really seem to get it and their rise in student achievement is remarkable.  Check out the story at:

http://k12blueprint.com/k12/blueprint/story_focusing_river_dell.php

IPads and Differentiation

Welcome to post 100 of I Teach Therefore IPod.  When I started this blog in April during a Tammy Worcester PD Session at the MSET Conference (a big shout out to the best Tech Staff Developer out there!), I never thought nine months and 10,000 page views from 76 countries later I would still be at it.  I've been inspired by the reach of the blog across the globe.  It's been a great example for my students about how one person's thinking can plant a seed that grows around the globe.  The app rubric that brought many of you to this site is being used in over 190 school systems, universities and agencies allover the world.  It's kind of freaky when you think about it.  Anyway, I'll continue blogging as long as you continue reading.  Thanks for following....

Now, today's post - A number of schools in the Olympia area of Washington State have adopted the use of IPads in some of their classrooms.  Are you frustrated with your district or school's progress in the adoption of the latest technology.  Be glad you are not in the North Thurston Public Schools (see article) - They are not using IPads "because they don't work with the district's technology system." Really?  At any rate the article highlights the work in several other districts.  My favorite part is where one teacher discusses how well the students take care of the IPads, something they originally worried about.  We have had the same experience with even our fourth and fifth graders. The treat them as if they were gold - they kind of are to them.  Her quote from the article - "They put them back where they're supposed to.  They never put French books back where they're supposed to."

Here is the link : http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/18/1918639/with-ipads-olympia-students-have.html

The One-To-One Institute - Who Knew?

I recently stumbled across the website, "One-To-One Institute."  In their own words:

"One-to-One Institute grew out of Michigan’s successful, statewide one-to-one initiative, Freedom to Learn.  One-to-One Institute is a national non-profit committed to igniting 21st century education through the implementation of one-to-one technology in K-12 settings.  Our mission is to transform education. We believe that by personalizing learning through universal, uninterrupted access to technology students will take ownership of their learning and maximize their potential."

That's what I want to be when I grow up....

Check them out at:


http://www.one-to-oneinstitute.org/index.php?/who-we-are/