In February 2012, our Pastor, Father Metzler, made a truly historic announcement at our school's annual Home & School Association Auction. Holding a student backpack, he declared that beginning in September 2012, our children would no longer be carrying backpacks as heavy as they are - instead, each student in grades Kindergarten - 8 would receive a new iPad. There was a moment of silence followed by thunderous applause followed by tidal wave of enthusiastic questions and legitimate concerns.
In the months that have followed, the 1:1 Initiative has been moving carefully toward its goal. Until the school year ended, there was virtually no visible sign that the project was underway. Only the increasing number of gray hairs on my head bore testimony to the work being done as we puzzled our way through conversations about wireless networks, internet security, mobile device management and iPad configuration. Our school principal, Mrs. Gannatti, and I made visits to other schools already using the iPad. Each visit excited and overwhelmed us. At every visit, we found students and faculty actively engaged in learning by utilizing the iPad. Several of us attended professional development sessions focusing on both mobile device technology and "flipped" classrooms. These sessions gave us added confidence that we are moving in the right direction to make learning relevant in the digital age. Mrs. Gannatii and I also spent a challenging day at Business Rules in Rhinecliff, New York learning about iPad configuration. The most valuable lesson we learned on that particular day is that sometimes, you need to get some experienced help if you want the job done right!
We applied for, and received, a HOPES grant to help pay for our new wireless network and for professional development. We celebrated when Archbishop Mansell approved our purchase of enough iPads for all our students. As all this behind the scenes work was being done, our school parents patiently waited for updates, provided positive feedback and graciously listened to a presentation in May about the "Cloud Based classroom" at the Spring Vocal Concert.
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| You have to love a product that calls itself a "rocket"! |
School was dismissed for the summer on June 15th and the 1:1 Initiative moved into high gear. In the first two weeks of summer "vacation", our teachers have received their new iPads and two days of professional development so that they can explore the capabilities of their device all summer. The school's new enterprise level Aerohive wireless network has been installed and connected to our Business Class Comcast service. Our Lightspeed "Bottle Rocket" arrived and will be installed at the end of July. This device will give our students a state of the art safe internet experience whenever they use their iPads to surf the net - even off school campus.
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| Each classroom is sporting brand new wireless Aerohive "hub". |
Over the next several weeks, we expect delivery of our student iPads and we will begin to setup our new email system using Google Apps for Education. Our secure email system will allow our students to email one another and faculty. Access to email addresses external to campus will be limited to faculty and staff. Google Apps will also allow us to use Google Docs and to explore shared calendars and blogs.
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| ....has a lot of wires. |
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| Even a "wireless" network.... |
It's not exactly a summer at the beach but I've never had a more exciting vacation. Stay tuned for another "postcard" from "Apple Beach" soon!
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